ABRA 


IN 


INCLUDING  HIS  JGKIS  AND  ^tCD 


FROM 


tdWHITE  HOUSE 


P': 


I  ■ 


LINCOLN  ROOM 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 
LIBRARY 


MEMORIAL 

the  Class  of  1901 

founded  by 

HARLAN  HOYT  HORNER 

and 

HENRIETTA  CALHOUN  HORNER 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign 


http://www.archive.org/details/storyofabrahamliOOilgrid 


THE    EARLIEST    PORTRAIT    OF    ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

(By  courtesy  of  H.  W.  Fay,  DeKalb,  111.) 

From  a  daguerreotype  taken  when  Lincoln  was  about  forty  years  of  age; 
now  owned  by  his  son,  the  Hon.  Robert  T.  Lincoln, 


ABRAHAM    LINCOLN— 1858. 

The  original  photograph,  from  which  this  half-tone  is  made,  was  sold  by  the  ladies 
of  the  Methodist  Church  at  Wilmington,  111.,  and  although  only  cabinet  size,  brought 
in  excess  of  one  hundred  dollars. 

The  purchaser,  an  old  friend  and  great  admirer  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  presented  it 
to  Attorney  D.  R.  Thomas  of  Chicago,  through  whose  courtesy  the  author  is  able  to 
reproduce  it  here.  Hon.  A.  Orrendorff  of  Springfield,  111.,  says  "this  is  the  best  picture 
of  Mr.  Lincoln  that  has  been  found  to  date,"  and  further  says,  "I  can  see  him  just  as 
he  sits  in  the  court-room  and  about  ready  to  argue  an  important  case." 


^  @  @  ^ 
@ 


THE 

STORY 

OF 


@ 


hfihK  L 


LN 


OR  THE  JOURNEY  FROM  THE   LOG 
CABIN  TO  THE  WHITE   HOUSE  .   .  . 


*'  Vou  can  fool  some  of  the  people  all  the  ttme^  and  all  the  people  some  of  the 
time^  but  you  canH  fool  all  the  people  all  the  time.'''' 

— A.  Lincoln 


BY 


ELEANOR  GRIDLEY 


SECRETARY  OF  THE  LINCOLN  LOG  CABIN  ASSOCIATION 


EDITION  OF  1927 

M.  A,   DONOHUE  &  CO. 


CHICAGO 


NEW  YORK 


Copyright  1900 

By 

ELEANOR  GRIDLEY 


All  Rights  Reserved 


THE  ENGRAVINGS  in  this  volume 
were  made  from  origiual  photo- 
graphs and  drawings,  aiid  are  speci- 
ally protected  by  Copyright,  and 
notice  is  hereby  given  that  any  per- 
son, or  persons  fiuiliy  of  reproduc- 
ing, or  infringing  the  Copyright  in 
any  way,  will  be  dealt  with  accord- 
!■£  to  law. 


c. 


11- 


'-IZI 


STATEMENT  TO  THE  PUBLIC 


During  the  summer  of  1891  "The  Abraham  Lincoln  Log  Cabin  Asso^ 
elation"  of  which  I  was  president,  elected  Mrs.  Eleanor  Gridley  as 
secretary  and  literary  editor  of  the  organization.  She  was  sent  into 
Coles  County,  Ills.,  where  the  Lincoln  family  lived,  for  the  purpose  of 
collecting  Lincoln  relics  and  of  obtaining  such  authentic  and  historical 
facts  as  might  be  gathered  from  relatives,  neighbors  and  associates  of 
the  martyred  President.  During  her  stay  there  she  boarded  with  Mr. 
John  Hall,  a  cousin  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  at  that  time  owner  of 
the  Lincoln  homettead.  Here  she  remained  several  weeks,  in  sight  of, 
and  making  daily  trips  to  the  "old  log  cabin"  and  spent  much  time  in- 
terviewing the  people  who  came  from  the  country  about  to  tell  of  their 
acquaintance  with  Mr.  Lincoln  and  his  people, 

I  take  great  pleasure  in  saying  that  Mrs.  Gridley  did  her  work 
faithfully  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  members  of  the  organi- 
zation. The  unique  and  original  manner  in  which  she  has  interblended 
pathetic,  humorous  and  homely  incidents  in  her  book,  makes  the  story 
"From  the  Log  Cabin  to  the  White  House''  one  of  great  interest  and 
rare  value. 

Respectfully, 


A  RARE  TESTIMONIAL 


The  following  letter  by  Hon.  Thomas  B.  Bryan  addressed  to  the  au- 
thor of  "The  Story  of  Lincoln"  is  a  graceful  compliment  to  Mrs.  Grid- 
ley's  effort. 

Mr.  Bryan  is  one  of  the  few  surviving  members  of  the  Union  Defense 
Committee,  recognized  by  President  Lincoln  as  being  of  such  efficient 
service  to  the  Union  cause  as  to  call  the  committee  his  "right  arm  in 
the  West/'  As  he  expressed  it,  the  "Western  fellows  can  fill  up  any  gap.'' 

Mr.  Bryan  is  the  only  surviving  member  of  the  distinguished  Chi- 
cago pall  bearers  who  bore  the  casket  which  contained  the  precious 
remains  of  the  martyred  President  to  its  last  resting  place. 

Mr.  Bryan  w^as  the  philanthropic  man  to  purchase  the  draft  of  the 
Emancipation  proclamation  given  by  Abraham  Lincoln  to  the  ladies 
of  the  Chicago  Sanitary  Fair.  He  paid  for  it  |3,000 — then  presented  it 
to  the  Soldiers'  Home.  Twentv-five  thousand  dollars  was  the  sum 
afterwards  offered  for  this  priceless  document. 

Mr.  Bryan  has  been  for  many  years  a  strong  and  unique  figure  in 
the  arena  of  political,  social  and  legal  activities.  He  was  and  is  an 
ardent  admirer  of  the  great  Lincoln  and  has  had  many  interviews  with 
the  dead  President    Following  is-  his  letter: 

Chicago,  July  4,  1902. 
Mrs.  Eleanor  Gridley: 

My  Dear  Madam: — In  compliance  with  your  request,  I  furnish  you 
herewith  the  clipping  of  a  Chicago  newspaper  of  May  1,  1865,  from 
which  you  can  obtain  the  data  of  the  obsequies  of  Abraham  Lincoln  in 
this  city. 

You  are  right  in  saying  that  I  am  the  last  survivor  in  Chicago  of 
the  twelve  pall  bearers,  indicated  in  the  accompanying  cut  of  the  cor- 
tege. 

You  are  also  right  in  the  belief  that  the  very  faithful  portrait  of 
Lincoln  was  painted  by  Healy  immediately  after  the  first  election,  to 
complete  my  presidential  series  from  Washington  to  Lincoln,  now  in 
the  Corcoran  Art  Gallery  at  Washington. 


Instead  of  my  writing,  as  you  desire,  an  introduction  to  your  book, 
allow  me  to  quote  from  two  of  my  friends,  both  long  since  gathered 
also  to  their  fathers,  Horace  Greeley  and  Benjamin  F.  Taylor. 

"Mr.  Lincoln,"  wrote  the  former,  "was  emphatically  a  man  of  the 
Ijeople.  There  never  yet  was  man  so  lowlj^  as  to  feel  humbled  in  the 
presence  of  Abraham  Lincoln;  there  was  no  honest  man  who  feared  to 
meet  him;  there  was  no  virtuous  society  so  rude  that  had  he  casually 
dropped  into  it,  he  would  have  checked  innocent  hilarity,  or  been  felt 
as  a  damper  on  enjoyment.  Had  he  entered,  as  a  stranger,  a  logger's 
camp  in  the  great  woods,  or  a  pioneer^s  bark-covered  cabin  in  some  new 
settlement,  he  w^ould  have  soon  been  recognized  and  valued  as  one 
whose  acquaintance  was  to  be  prized  and  cultivated." 

Then  equally  forcible,  eloquent,  and  true  are  the  words  of  that  poet 
friend  who  well  knew  and  warmly  appreciated  the  noble  attributes  of 
the  illustrious  martyr. 

Benjamin  F.  Taylor  wrote:  "To  me  Lincoln's  story  with  rugged  face 
was  always  a  poem  in  itself.  There  were  flashes  of  wit  and  flashes  of 
humor  like  glimpses  of  sunshine  in  a  shady  place;  but  ever  in  those 
kind  and  gentle  eyes  an  unspeakable  sadness,  as  if  no  matter  what  the 
lips  were  saying,  they  were  always  seeing  the  mission  of  their  master's 
life,  at  once  an  anthem  and  a  dirge,  that  should  touch  unreckoned  ages, 
and  make  his  words  as  imperishable  as  our  English  speech." 

On  looking  over  your  volume  I  am  impressed  with  the  care  and 
pains  you  have  taken,  and  the  great  success  of  your  efforts  in  obtaining 
from  the  fountain-head,  the  home  neighbors  of  the  martyred  President, 
incidents  of  personal  interest  connected  with  his  noble  life,  and  illus^ 
trating  the  sterling  character  for  which  his  memory  is  so  universally 
cherished.  You  are  to  be  congratulated  on  the  thoroughness  of  your 
work  so  signally  displayed  in  the  volume  before  me. 

Yours  sincerely, 

THOMAS  B.  BRYAN. 


Dedicated 

TO 

Every  American  Citizen — man, 
woman  and  child — who  reveres 
the  life  of  that  noble-hearted  and 
matchless  man,  Abraham  Lincoln 


PREFACE 


THE  grandest  heritage  of  any  nation  is  the  lives  and  deeds  of  its 
noblest  sons  who  have  wrought  and  sacrificed  even  life  itself  that 
the  nation  might  live.    Our  country's  history  is  rich  in  the  lega- 
cies left  it  by  heroic  souls  who  have  toiled  in  every  field  of  human 
endeavor,  but  in  none  more  so  than  in  the  life  story  of  the  subject  of  this 
volume. 

While  many  books  have  been  written  upon  the  life  of  Abraham  Lin- 
coln, all  of  which  are  good,  yet  none  to  my  knowledge  offers  the  plain 
and  unvarnished  story  of  his  home  life  and  surroundings.  They  have 
dealt  largely  with  Lincoln,  the  statesman,  while  this  volume  is  designed 
to  set  forth  Lincoln,  the  boy,  the  native  man.  Here  his  boyish  hopes  and 
hardships,  his  youthful  aspirations  and  privations,  his  home  life,  and 
his  public  services  are  so  interwoven  in  simple  story  that  the  reader  will 
follow,  step  by  step,  the  journey  from  the  Log  Cabin  to  the  White  House 
with  unflagging  interest. 

The  humble  origin  and  lowly  condition  of  the  man  is  presented  for 
the  purpose  of  strengthening  and  developing  correct  ideas  concerning 
the  possibilities  of  the  human  race,  no  matter  what  the  early  environ- 
ment or  training  may  have  been. 

I  spent  several  weeks  at  the  Lincoln  homestead,  personally  inter- 
viewing the  relatives,  friends,  neighbors  and  associates  of  Mr.  Lincoln 
and  his  father's  family,  while  those  further  removed  from  the  old  home- 
stead were  otherwise  communicated  with,  thus  obtaining  many  incidents 
and  anecdotes  entirely  overlooked  by  the  ordinary  historian.  I  have  tried 
to  make  the  home  life  of  Uncle  Abe,  the  children's  friend,  so  intensely 
interesting  that  not  a  single  family  in  the  broad  land  will  be  without  it. 

The  boy's  Kentucky  home,  the  young  lad's  life  in  Indiana,  the  man's 
legal  profession  and  domestic  life,  the  home  at  the  White  House,  the 
service  to  the  nation,  and  the  patriot's  death  will,  I  trust,  inspire  other 
boys  to  noble  endeavor. 


PREFACE. 

I  desire  to  express  my  thanks  to  Judge  James  B.  Bradwell,  through 
whose  courtesy  I  have  been  able  to  secure  copies  of  original  documents 
and  original  photographs  of  valuable  relics  of  Mr.  Lincoln ;  to  Mr.  Koot, 
whose  kindness  has  furnishecb  me  with  rare  photographs,  and  to  Mrs. 
John  A.  Logan,  Governor  Eichard  Oglesby,  Mrs.  Colonel  O.  B.  Ficklin 
and  many  other  admirers  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  whose  kindly  aid  has  made  my 
task  a  labor  of  love. 

ELEANOR  GRIDLEY. 


AN  APPRECIATIVE  LETTER 

(Written  by  Myron  E).  Dunlap  of  Washington,  D.  C.) 
"My  Dear  Mrs.  Grldley:  I  need  not  tell  you  that  I  read  with  much 
interest  and  pleasure  the  chapters  you  sent  me.  You  have  done  a  good 
work  and  have  done  it  well.  You  give  us  new  views  of  the  great  Lin- 
coln. From  a  new  standpoint  you  show  the  extreme  poverty  of  his 
boyhood  days  and  the  limited  schooling  he  had  in  the  university  of 
the  woods;  how  low  down  his  beginning  and  how  high  up  his  ending. 
Fred  Douglass  used  to  say  of  himself  that  the  height  to  which  he 
attained  in  his  career  was  not  to  be  wondered  at  so  much  as  the  depth 
from  which  he  came.  Is  not  that  true  of  Lincoln?  Your  book  shows 
most  vividly  the  great  depth  from  which  he  came.  But  Henry  Watter- 
son  holds  that  Lincoln  was  divinely  appointed  for  the  mission  he  per- 
formed, and  that  seems  to  me  to  be  the  only  satisfactory  explanation 
of  Lincoln's  great  career.  Like  John  the  Baptist,  he  came  forth  from 
the  wilderness  in  his  raiment  of  camePs  hair,  and  his  meat  was  locust 
and  wild  honey.  Did  you  read  my  apostrophe  to  him  in  the  address 
I  delivered  in  the  Confederate  cemetery  at  Appomattox?  He  deserved 
all  I  said  of  him  and  more,  too.  It  is  my  earnest  wish  that  your  book 
may  bring  to  you  much  praise  and  joyful  recompense  and  that  you  may 
live  long  to  enjoy  both."  Very  sincerely  and  truly  yours, 

MYRON    E.    DUNLAP. 


INTRODUCTION 

THE  world  ha'S  become  exceedingly  familiar  with  the  Abraham 
Lincoln  who  filled  a  great  place  in  the  history  of  the  United 
States,  and  thubi  remain  foreyer  the  central  point  of  its  national 
life  of  freedom.  T\e  recognize  at  a  glance  the  rugged  outlines  of  his 
strong  figure,  and  thrill  as  we  realize  that  the  open  horror  of  legalized 
slavery  might  be  among  us  still,  had  it  not  been  for  his  courage  and 
constancy. 

There  is  anothei*  i^mcoln,  howeyer,  with  whom  we  are  not  yet  well 
acquainted.  Eyery  great  man  has  his  human  side^  the  side  which 
reyeals  his  rearing'  and  associations,  and  offers  frank  traces  of  the 
enyironment  which  naci  much  to  do  v/ith  m.aking  him  the  indiyidual  we 
have  learned  to  knc^w  und  loye,  the  indiyidual  who  has  become  of  yalue 
to  his  race.  This  I/incoln  is  the  man  who  wore  "blue  Jeans,"  and  split 
rails,  whose  name  was  "Abe,'*  and  whose  greatness  always  kept  the 
gentle  outline  of  a  loving  intimacy  for  all  those  v/ho  knew  him  in  his 
youth. 

Out  of  this  "Abe^'  the  famous  statesman  and  savior  of  his  country 
grew.  He  would  never  have  entered  our  national  life  v/ith  the  clear 
perception,  the  giant  principle  and  unflinching  self-sacrifice  v/hich  made 
him  what  he  was,  unless  the  simple  relations  of  his  daily  existence  had 
formed  the  fire  which  melted  and  molded  the  varying  constituents  of 
his  nature,  until  gradually  the  coarse  and  selfish  elements  disappeared, 
to  be  replaced  by  those  eternal  and  splendid  characteristics  which 
builded  in  him  a  hero  for  all  time. 

Many  people  of  to-day  live  far  away  from  the  realities  which 
molded  Abraham  Lincoln  into  the  thinker  and  statesman,  and  it  is 
good  to  be  reminded  of  them.  We  grow  strong  in  seeing  how  he  helped 
build  the  cabin  in  which  he  lived,  how  he  constructed  the  flat  boat  with 
which  he  etirned  his  first  silver  half  dollar  We  think  seriously  as  we 
realize  that  no  matter  huv/  coarse  his  surroundings,  Abraham  Lincoln 


INTRODUCTION 

never  made  a  low  jest  about  a  woman,  or  allowed  such  a  thing  to  pass 
without  reproof,  and  that  wherever  he  was,  in  all  the  country  round, 
he  was  known  as  "the  homeliest,  the  gentlest,  the  strongest  and  the 
best-natured  fellow.'' 

It  is  this  Abraham  Lincoln  to  whom  the  sympathetic  spirit  of  Mrs. 
Gridley  has  introduced  us.  Her  own  varied  knowledge  of  life  and  sensi- 
tive perception,  her  feeling  for  the  natural  and  unconventional  man 
have  helped  her  to  understand  him.  Her  gift  of  pure  and  pregnant 
English  has  enabled  her  to  put  him  before  us  as  he  breathed  and  moved. 
She  has  brought  us  in  touch  with  his  native  ruggedness  and  in  her 
pages  we  become  acquainted  with  Abraham  Lincoln  as  those  knew 
him  who  were  born  under  the  same  roof-tree  with  him. 

We  recognize,  perhaps  with  surprise,  that  his  ideal  was  never  that 
of  thrifty  self-advancement ;  that  his  family  as  a  rule  were  pronounced 
"shiftless,"  that  "Abe"  would  invariably  divide  his  half  dollar  with  any 
one  who  needed  it,  and  that  his  treasures  were  always  for  the  service 
of  his  friends.  He  had  an  old  uncle  who  would  stop  to  philosophize 
while  he  stuck  a  pig,  and  Lincoln's  own  energy  and  push  never  became 
too  far  removed  from  this  spirit  of  gentle  and  loving  inquiry,  which 
kept  him  forever  in  touch  with  the  man  who  sweats  and  toils,  and  the 
woman  whose  hands  are  hardened  by  the  multiplicity  of  her  cares. 

To  live  is  to  create  actively  in  many  different  directions,  to  build, 

/ove,  contrive  and  think,  and  the  Abe  Lincoln  who  lived,  and  through 

real  living  became  an  eternal  figure  in  the  national  life  of  his  fellows,  is 

the  Abraham  Lincoln  who  greets  us  in  these  pages,  and  to  whom  we 

>ever  afterward  will  be  willing  to  say  f arewelL 

MAKY  HANFORD  FORD. 


AUTHOR'S  SPECIAL  PREFACE 

TO  THE 

ANNIVERSARY  EDITION. 


It  is  impossible  to  conceive  of  a  more  notable  or  more  historic 
series  of  events  marking  the  birth  of  any  character,  however  great  or 
powerful,  than  those  which  have  been  observed  in  celebrating  the  one 
hundredth  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  Abraham  Lincoln. 

In  every  large  city  of  the  world  the  great  man's  life  was  the  leading 
theme  of  eulogy  and  oratory.  In  every  city,  town  and  hamlet  of  this 
reunited  and  reconstructed  land  of  our  country,  his  life,  step  by  step, 
from  birth  to  martyr  death  and  glorious  translation,  was  reviewed  by 
distinguished  men  and  earnest  women  in  brilliant  speech  of  loving 
tribute.  His  words  were  revived;  those  words  so  pregnant  with  wis- 
dom, justice,  sympathy,  humorous  allusion  of  pathetic  reflection  were 
resurrected  and  respoken  that  they  might  gather  anew,  strength  to 
again  declare  the  truth,  the  beauty  and  the  love  they  once  proclaimed. 

In  all  the  schools  of  the  broad  land  the  great  man's  humble  birth, 
his  wretched  home,  his  poverty,  his  destitution,  his  limited  education, 
his  yearning  for  a  different  life,  for  youthful  pleasures  and  boyhood 
comrades,  which  were  denied  him,  were  vividly  portrayed,  while  the 
patience  and  courage  of  his  brave  little  soul,  his  sacrifices,  his  un- 
selfishness, his  self-education  and  self-advancement  were  dwelt  upon, 
that  the  boy  of  today  who  has  so  many  educational  advantages  and 
opportunities  and  home  comforts  may  realize  that  it  is  not  the  homely 
and  common  environment  of  childhood  and  youth  that  holds  the  boy 
in  bondage  to  mediocre  results,  but,  that  the  boy  Who  may  be  sur- 
rounded with  all  these  and  more  unhappy  and,  apparently,  unfortunate 
conditions  can  through  strength,  courage,  patience,  hope  and  faith 
overcome  and  overthrow  all  obstacles,  no  matter  how  great  or  difficult. 

In  all  the  higher  schools  of  learning — colleges  and  universities — 
the  rise  and  emancipation  of  this  great  soul,  from  poverty  and  squalor, 
from  coaioC  and  vulgar  ignorance,  from  uncongenial  associates  and 
companionship,  from  an  environment  always  of  downward  tendency 


AUTHOR'S  SPECIAL  PREFACE. 

and  never  of  thrifty  self-advancement,  to  the  heights — ^^the  fomm  of 
intellectual  culture  and  masterful  language,  was  the  subject  presented 
for  consideration  and  example  to  the  students  of  all  rank  and  class. 

In  every  gathering,  great  or  small,  whether  it  was  the  large  and 
fashionable  audience  of  the  great  auditoriums  or  banquet  halls  who 
had  come  to  listen  and  applaud  the  brilliant  and  masterly  effort  of 
the  learned  speakers;  whether  it  was  the  little  band  of  loving  souls 
who  had  met  to  voice,  in  simple,  homely  speech  their  tribute  of  praise 
and  love;  whether  it  was  the  little  household  brood  who  were  drinking 
in  the  words  of  the  story — a  story  which  set  forth,  step  by  step,  Abra- 
ham Ijincoln^s  journey  from  the  log  ©abin  to  the  White  House,  and 
told  by  the  loving  mother  who  pictured  the  future  greatness  of  her 
young  son,  as  did  Nancy  Lincoln  a.  hundred  years  ago  when  her  baby 
boy  was  laid  in  her  caressing  embrace;  in  every  one  of  these  special 
gatherings  every  heart  breathed  the  spirit  of  love,  of  tenderness,  of 
pity  for  the  great  man's  sad  and  dangerous  voyage — the  voyage  of 
life — ^for  his  sorrows,  his  disappointments  and  his  tragic  and  untimely 
death. 

At  the  birthplace  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  in  Kentucky,  a  most  ex- 
traordinary gathering  convened.  Though  the  day  was  anything  but 
pleasant  or  agreeable,  the  pilgrims  who  came  to  mark  the  natal  spot 
were  not  discouraged  nor  driven  back  by  the  pelting  rain;  with  cheer- 
ful hearts  and  lively  step  they  pushed  onward  and  faltered  not  till  the 
mecca  was  reached. 

A  notable  array  of  America's  most  distinguished  men  and  women 
;^ere  gathered  to  pay  homage  to  the  memory  of  the  great  man  and  with 
mutual  good-will  united  in  making  the  ceremonies  a  most  imposing  and 
impressive  event.  The  exercises  were  conducted  in  an  open-sided 
tent  erected  alongside  the  cabin  in  which  the  great  emancipator  was 
born  one  hundred  years  ago.  The  monument  which  shall  mark  this 
;pot  (the  corner  stone  of  which  was  laid  this  day)  establishes  another 
nemorial  to  the  nativity  of  America's  great  heroes. 

The  President,  Theodore  Eoosevelt,  was  the  most  distinguished 
speaker  of  the  occasion,  and,  in  paying  his  tribute  to  the  memory  of 
A^braham  Lincoln,  he  pronounced  such  eulogy  as  never  before  was 
^iven  to  any  ruler  of  the  world.  His  speech  in  full  will  be  found  else- 
where in  this  book. 

At  Springfield,  Illinois,  the  town  from  which  Abraham  Lincoln  de- 
parted on  the  triumphal  march  to  Washington  and  to  his  residence 


AUTHOR'S  SPECIAL  PREFACE. 

m  the  Executive  Mansion,  lie  was  internationally  canonized  and  in  this 
town,  which  knew  him  best,  the  United  States,  Great  Britain  and 
France,  through  their  distinguished  representatives,  and,  only  as  man 
to  man,  paid  their  nations  ^  tribute  to  the  man  who  loved  his  f ellowman 
with  a  love  past  all  understanding. 

The  capital  city  of  Illinois  was  a  scene  of  varied  contrasts.  The 
people,  old  and  young,  gay  and  sad,  black  and  white,  were  passing  to 
and  fro  among  the  streets  he  used  to  walk,  by  the  building  where  his 
law  office  was  located,  into  the  old  court  house  where  he  practiced  law 
and  through  and  through  again  the  rooms  of  the  old  Lincoln  homestead. 

The  incessant  tramp  and  hurried  step  of  the  city's  visitors  w^as 
changed  to  a  slow  and  measured  tread,  the  chatty  tone  and  loud  voice 
of  the  sightseers  was  low  and  subdued  as  they  turned  from  the  streets 
of  the  town  and  began  their  march  to  Oak  Eidge  cemetery  where  the 
beautiful  and  imposing  mausoleum  has  been  erected  to  the  memory  of 
the  martyred  president.  Here,  beside  the  sarcophagus,  in  which  the 
remains  of  the  illustrious  dead  rest,  the  immediate  kin,  his  only  male 
descendant,  Eobert  Lincoln,  the  distinguished  speakers  of  the  occasion, 
the  friends — and  the  people,  the  common  people — gathered  to  pay 
their  silent  and  tearful  tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  affectionate  father, 
the  gentle,  tender  man,  the  nation's  wise  and  just  ruler  and  the  blessed 
martyr. 

At  the  base  of  the  monument  old  soldiers,  boys  in  blue,  who  had 
responded  to  Lincoln's  call  to  arms  with  ^^We  are  coming.  Father 
Abraham,  six  hundred  thousand  strong"  stood  guard  with  ^' fixed  bayo- 
nets" but  the  bayonets  were  not  so  ^' fixed"  that  they  could  not  lower 
them  when  the  children  and  the  women  and  the  other  people  asked  to 
place  their  wreaths  of  fragrant  floral  offerings  about  the  resting  place 
dedicated  to  the  memory  of  Abraham  Lincoln  who  is  marching  on 
with  the  other  heroes  who  have  joined  the  procession  of  renowned 
immortals. 

This  great  and  wonderful  demonstration  in  honor  of  the  one  hun- 
dredth anniversary  of  Abraham  Lincoln's  birth  was  most  impressive 
and  carries  in  its  import  mighty  influences,  influences  that  will  be  a 
lasting  and  beneficial  lesson  to  the  present  generation  and  to  all  future 
generations.  It  will  so  have  gathered  greater  and  greater  import  that 
the  life  and  character  of  this  man  of  lowly  birth  and  humble  child- 
hood and  youth,  who  rose  to  command  the  respect  and  admiration 
of  other  nations  and  gained  the  love  and  reverence  of  the  greatest 


AUT ROB'S  SPECIAL  PREFACE. 

and  most  powerful  nation  on  eartli  may  be  considered  the  miracle 
of  the  present  century. 

The  life  of  Abraham  Lincoln  in  every  aspect,  from  his  birth  to 
his  death,  calls  for  emulation,  whether  it  be  the  simple  home  life  filled 
with  gentle  words  and  helpful  deeds,  with  self-sacrifice,  self-denial 
and  unselfishness,  or  his  public  career — a  mighty  career — crowded  into 
the  space  of  a  few  years,  a  life  filled  with  stronger  words  of  wisdom 
and  sympathy  and  greater  deeds  of  helpfulness  and  love. 

All  through  his  life  he  dared  to  do  what  he  thought  was  right,  dared 
to  champion  the  cause  of  the  helpless  and  the  oppressed,  dared  to 
stand  up  against  criticism  and  contumely,  dared  to  withstand  flattery 
and  adulation,  dared  to  stand  up  against  oppression  and  censure ;  with 
malice  toward  none  and  charity  for  all,  he  preserved  a  calm  demeanor 
and  pursued  the  even  tenor  of  his  way.  What  he  considered  right  to 
do  he  dared  to  do ;  what  he  considered  wrong  no  power  on  earth  could 
compel  him  to  do.  In  every  decision  of  his  life  he  said,  *^  "Whatever 
appears  to  be  God^s  will,  I  will  do." 

At  every  crucial  point  of  his  life  he  met  the  situation  with  un- 
flinching courage  and  indomitable  determination,  and  in  whatever 
manner  or  way  life  touched  him  he  spoke  back  its  meaning,  gave  forth 
fire  to  kindle  anew  its  flames.  Each  power  slumbered  in  him  and 
waited  to  be  awakened  and  upon  whatever  scale  the  cliallenge  came 
he  seemed  a  great  reservoir  of  living  water  which  could  be  freely 
quaffed  but  never  exhausted.  His  nature  suggested  a  richness  that  had 
only  been  partly  drawn  upon  and  his  life  ended  as  if  unfinished,  fuller 
of  promise  than  when  it  began. 

The  little  cabin  home,  so  small,  yet  it  contained  all  who  loved  him, 
but  now  the  House  Beautiful  is  so  large  that  it  can  contain  all  who  love 
his  memory,  the  whole  nation. 

ELEANOR  GRIDLEY. 


PRESIDENT  THEODORE  ROOSEVELT'S 

CENTENNIAL  ANNIVERSARY  SPEECH, 

FEBRUARY  12th,  1909,  AT  THE  LAYING  OF  THE  CORNER 
STONE  OF  THE  MEMORIAL  BUILDING,  ERECTED  ON 
THE  FARM  WHERE  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN  WAS  BORN 
NEAR  HODGENSVILLE,  KENTUCKY. 


We  have  met  here  to  celebrate  the  hundredth  anniversary  of  the 
birth  of  one  of  the  two  greatest  Americans ;  of  one  of  the  two  or  three 
greatest  men  of  the  nineteenth  century ;  of  one  of  the  greatest  men  in 
the  world's  history.  This  rail  splitter,  this  boy  who  passed  his  un- 
gainly youth  in  the  dire  poverty  of  the  poorest  of  the  frontier  folk, 
whose  rise  was  by  weary  and  painful  labor,  lived  to  lead  his  people 
through  the  burning  flames  of  a  struggle  from  which  the  nation 
emerged,  purified  as  by  fire,  born  anew  to  a  loftier  life. 

After  long  years  of  iron  effort  and  of  failure  that  came  more  often 
than  victory,  he  at  last  rose  to  the  leadership  of  the  republic,  at  the 
moment  when  that  leadership  had  become  the  stupendous  world  task 
of  the  time.  He  grew  to  know  greatness,  but  never  ease.  Success 
came  to  him,  but  never  happiness,  save  that  which  springs  from  doing 
well  a  painful  and  a  vital  task. 

Power  was  his,  but  not  pleasure.  The  furrows  deepened  on  his 
brow,  but  his  eyes  were  undimmed  by  either  hate  or  fear.  His  gaunt 
shoulders  were  bowed,  but  his  steel  thews  never  faltered  as  he 
bore  for  a  burden  the  destinies  of  his  people. 

Heart  Shrank  from  Giving  Pain. 

His  great  and  tender  heart  shrank  from  giving  pain;  and  the  task 
allotted  him  was  to  pour  out  like  water  the  lifeblood  of  the  vouno^ 
men,  and  to  feel  in  his  every  fiber  the  sorrow  of  the  women.  Disaster 
saddened  but  never  dismayed  him. 

As  the  red  years  of  war  went  by  they  found  him  ever  doing  his 
duty  in  the  present,  ever  facing  the  future  with  fearless  fi'ont,  high 
of  heart,  and  dauntless  of  soul.     Unbroken  by  hatred,  unshaken  by 


PRESIDENT  ROOSEVELT'S  SPEECH 

scorn,  lie  worked  and  suffered  for  the  people,  Triumpli  was  liis  at 
the  last,  and  barely  had  he  tasted  it  before  murder  found  him,  and 
the  kindly,  patient,  fearless  eyes  were  closed  forever. 

As  a  people  we  are  indeed  beyond  measure  fortunate  in  the  char- 
acters of  the  two  greatest  of  our  public  men,  Washington  and  Lincoln, 
Widely  though  they  diifered  in  externals,  the  Virginia  landed  gentle- 
man and  the  Kentucky  backwoodsman,  they  were  alike  in  essentials, 
they  were  alike  in  the  great  qualities  which  rendered  each  able  to 
render  service  to  his  nation  and  to  all  mankind  such  as  no  other  man 
of  his  generation  could  or  did  render. 

Each  had  lofty  ideals,  but  each  in  striving  to  attain  these  lofty 
ideals  was  guided  by  the  soundest  common  sense.  Each  possessed 
inflexible  courage  in  adversity  and  a  soul  wholly  unspoiled  by  pros- 
perity. 

Each  possessed  all  the  gentler  virtues  commonly  exhibited  by  good 
men  who  lack  rugged  strength  of  character.  Each  possessed  also  all 
the  strong  qualities  commonly  exhibited  by  those  towering  masters 
of  mankind  who  have  too  often  shown  themselves  devoid  of  so  much 
as  the  understanding  of  the  words  by  which  we  signify  the  qualities 
of  duty,  of  mercy,  of  devotion  to  the  right,  of  lofty  disinterestedness 
in  battling  for  the  good  of  others. 

There  have  been  other  men  as  great  and  other  men  as  good,  but 
in  all  the  history  of  mankind  there  are  no  other  two  great  men  as 
good  as  these,  no  other  two  good  men  as  great.  Widely  though  the 
problems  of  today  differ  from  the  problems  set  for  solution  to  Wash- 
ington when  he  founded  this  nation,  to  Lincoln  when  he  saved  it  and 
freed  the  slave,  yet  the  qualities  they  showed  in  meeting  these  problems 
are  exactly  the  same  as  those  we  should  show  in  doing  our  work  today. 

Lincoln  Eead  the  Future, 

Lincoln  saw  into  the  future  with  the  prophetic  imagination  usually 
vouchsafed  only  to  the  poet  and  the  seer.  He  had  in  him  all  the  lift 
toward  greatness  of  the  visionary  without  any  of  the  visionary 's  fanat- 
icism or  egotism,  without  any  of  the  visionary's  narrow  jealousy  of 
the  practical  man  and  inability  to  strive  in  practical  fashion  for  the 
realization  of  an  ideal. 

He  had  the  practical  man's  hard  common  sense  and  willingness  to 
adapt  means  to  ends,  but  there  was  in  him  none  of  that  morbid  growth 
of  mind  and  soul  which  blinds  so  many  practical  men  to  the  higher 
things  of  life. 


PRESIDENT  ROOSEVELT'S  SPEECH 

No  more  practical  man  ever  lived  than  this  homely  backwoods 
idealist,  but  he  had  nothing  in  common  with  those  practical  men  whose 
consciences  are  warped  until  they  fail  to  distinguish  between  good  and 
evil,  fail  to  understand  that  strength,  ability,  shrewdness,  whether  in 
the  world  of  business  or  of  politics,  only  serve  to  make  their  possessor 
a  more  noxious,  a  more  evil  member  of  the  community,  if  they  are  not 
guided  and  controlled  by  a  fine  and  high  moral  sense. 

Problems  to  Be  Solved  Today. 

We  of  this  day  must  try  to  solve  many  social  and  industrial  prob- 
lems, requiring  to  an  especial  degree  the  combination  of  indomitable 
resolution  with  cool-headed  sanity.  We  can  profit  by  the  way  in  which 
Lincoln  used  both  these  traits  as  he  'strove  for  reform. 

We  can  learn  much  of  value  from  the  attacks  which  following  that 
course  brought  upon  his  head,  attacks  alike  by  the  extremists  of  revo- 
lution and  by  the  extremists  of  reaction.  He  never  wavered  in  devo- 
tion to  his  principles,  in  his  love  for  the  union,  and  in  his  abhorrence 
of  slavery. 

Timid  and  lukewarm  people  always  were  denouncing  him  because 
he  was  too  extreme ;  but  as  a  matter  of  fact  he  never  went  to  extremes, 
he  worked  step  by  step;  and  because  of  this  the  extremists  hated  and 
denounced  him  with  a  fervor  which  now  seems  to  us  fantastic  in  its 
deification  of  the  unreal  *and  the  impossible.  At  the  time  when  one  side 
was  holding  him  up  as  the  apostle  of  social  revolution  because  he  was 
against  slavery,  the  leading  abolitionist  'denounced  him  as  the 
*  *  slave  hound  of  Illinois. ' ' 

When  he  was  the  second  time  candidate  for  president,  the  majority 
of  his  opponents  attacked  him  because  of  what  they  termed  his  extreme 
radicalism,  while  a  minority  threatened  to  bolt  his  nomination  because 
he  was  not  radical  enough.  He  continually  had  to  check  those  who 
wished  to  go  forward  too  fast,  at  the  time  he  overrode  the  oppO'sition 
of  those  who  wished  not  to  go  forward  at  all. 

The  goal  never  was  dim  before  his  vision;  but  he  picked  his  way 
cautiously,  without  either  halt  or  hurry,  as  he  strode  toward  it  through 
such  a  morass  of  difficulty  that  no  man  of  less  courage  would  have 
attempted  it,  while  it  surely  would  have  overwhelmed  any  man  of 
judgment  less  serene. 

Yet  perhaps  the  most  wonderful  thing  of  all,  and,  from  the  stand- 
point of  the  America  of  today  and  of  the  future,  the  most  vitally 


PRESIDENT  EOOSEVELT'S  SPEECH 

important,  was  the  extraordinary  way  in  w^liicli  Lincoln  could  fight 
valiantly  against  what  he  deemed  wrong  and  yet  preserve  undimin- 
ished his  love  and  respect  for  the  brother  from  whom  he  differed. 

Genebous  in  Hour  of  Triumph. 

In  the  hour  of  a  triumph  that  would  have  turned  any  weaker  man's 
head,  in  the  heat  of  a  struggle  which  spurred  many  a  good  man  to 
dreadful  vindictiveness,  he  said  truthfully  that  so  long  as  he  had  been 
in  office  he  never  had  willingly  planted  a  thorn  in  any  man's  bosom, 
and  besought  his  supporters  to  study  the  incidents  of  the  trial  through 
which  they  were  passing  as  philosophy  from  which  to  learn  wisdom 
and  not  as  wrongs  to  be  avenged,  ending  with  the  solemn  exhortation 
that,  as  the  strife  was  over,  all  should  reunite  in  a  common  effort  to 
save  their  common  country. 

He  lived  in  days  that  were  great  and  terrible,  when  brother  fought 
against  brother  for  what  each  sincerely  deemed  to  be  the  right. 

In  a  contest  so  grim  the  strong  men  who  alone  can  carry  it  through 
are  rarely  able  to  do  justice  to  the  deep  convictions  of  those  with  whom 
they  grapple  in  mortal  strife.  At  such  times  men  see  through  a  glass 
darkly;  to  only  the  rarest  and  loftiest  spirits  is  vouchsafed  that  clear 
vision  which  gradually  comes  to  all,  even  to  the  lesser,  as  the  struggle 
fades  into  distance,  and  wounds  are  forgotten,  and  peace  creeps  back 
to  the  hearts  that  were  hurt. 

But  to  Lincoln  was  given  this  supreme  vision.  He  did  not  hate 
the  man  from  whom  he  differed.  Weakness  was  as  foreign  as  wicked- 
ness to  his  strong,  gentle  nature,  but  his  courage  was  of  a  quality  so 
high  that  it  needed  no  bolstering  of  dark  passion. 

He  saw  clearly  that  the  same  high  qualities,  the  same  courage,  and 
willingness  for  self-sacrifice,  and  devotion  to  the  right  as  it  was  given 
them  to  see  the  right,  belonged  both  to  the  men  of  the  north  and  to  the 
men  of  the  south. 

As  the  years  roll  by,  and  as  all  of  us,  wherever  we  dwell,  grow  to 
feel  an  equal  pride  in  the  valor  and  self-devotion,  alike  of  the  men 
who  wore  the  blue  and  the  men  who  wore  the  gray,  so  this  whole  nation 
will  grow  to  feel  a  peculiar  sense  of  pride  in  the  man  whose  blood 
was  shed  for  the  union  of  his  people  and  for  the  freedom  of  a  race;  the 
lover  of  his  country  and  of  all  mankind ;  the  mightiest  of  the  mighty 
men  who  mastered  the  mighty  days,  Abraham  Lincoln. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I. 
A  Teip  to  the  Old  Log  Cabin 19 

CHAPTER  11. 
What  the  Old  Log  Cabin  Revealed 25 

CHAPTER  IIL 
Family  Incidents  Gathered  from  Relatives 33 

CHAPTER  IV. 
The  Boy  Abe  and  His  Angel  Mother 37 

CHAPTER   V. 
Anecdotes    42 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Ko  Barriers  to  Greatness 46 

CHAPTER  VII. 
The  New  Home — Visions  of  Prosperity 50 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Abe's  First  Grief     57 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Abe's  New  Mother  and  His  New  Life -^ 62 

CHAPTER  X. 
Lincoln's  Kindness  to  Animals 69 

CHAPTER  XL 
Starting  Out  in  Life 74 

CHAPTER  XII. 
Second  New  Home — ^Visions  of  Wealth 81 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
Getting  Acquainted  With  Himself 86 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
Lincoln's  First  Candidacy 91 

CHAPTER  XV. 
Mb.  Lincoln's  Political  Career , 95 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
A  Thrilling  Night  at  the  Old  Log  Cabin 100 

CHAPTER  XVIL 
A  Memorable  Sunday  104 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
Love,  Courtship  and  Marriage ,  111 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
Mr  Lincoln  in  Congress 120 

15 


16  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XX. 
A  Neighbor's  Verdict 1^^. 

CHAPTER  XXL 
Why  Lincoln  Never  Used  Profane  Language 141 

CHAPTER  XXIL 
Lincoln  Surprised  His  Photographer 149 

CHAPTER  XXIIl. 
Dennis  Hanks"  Visit  to  the  President  and  What  Came  of  It.  , . , 153 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
Recovery  of  the  Lincoln  Folk-Lore  Stories 161 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
Meeting  the  Little  Giant  in  Debate 175 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 
The  Honest  Lawyer 182 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 
The  Famous  Eastern  Trip 190 

CHAPTER  XXVIIL 
Presidential  Nomination   197 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 
The  Campaign 203 

CHAPTER  XXX. 
Journey  to  the  Capital 311 

CHAPTER  XXXL 
The  Inauguration  223 

CHAPTER  XXXIL 
Beginning  of  the  Rebellion 229 

CHAPTER  XXXIIL 
Anxious  Days  238 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 
The  President's  Kindness 249 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 
The  War  Continued 259 

CHAPTER  XXXVL 
Second  Presidential  Election 263 

CHAPTER  XXXVII. 
Lincoln's  Assassination 269 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 
Independence  Day  at  the  Old  Log  Cabin 273 

CHAPTER  XXXIX. 
Farewell  to  the  Lincoln  Homestead 279 

Lincoln's  Great  Sayings 283 


ENVELOPE  USED, DURING  CAMPAIGN  OF   1860. 


^"YOU  may  plant  your  seed  in  PEACE,FOaOLD 
VIRGINIA  >WILLHAVETO  BEAR.  THE  BRUNT  OF  BATTLE^ 


GOV.  PICKENS. 


\V^^- 


POOR  OLD  SIMPLEVIRGINIA 


^^i  V\ 


■'Vfl.m^'''-'-' 


h-^y^^ 


^■v 


^/Zz^l^^^-V^  A 


■•'ii; 


■III 


ENVELOPE   USED   DURING   THE    CIVIL  WAR. 


SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR'S  LIFE. 


Mrs.  Eleanor  Gridley,  the  pleasing  author  of  this  book,  and  Secretary 
of  the  Lincoln  Log  Cabin  Association,  was  born  in  Jackson,  Mich. 

After  deriving  all  the  advantage  possible  from  the  public  schools  of 
her  native  town,  she  was  sent  to  college  to  complete  her  education,  but 
an  early  marriage  diverted  that  plan.  Later  she  devoted  herself  to  the 
care  and  education  of  her  children.  Circumstances  arising  in  the  home- 
life  induced  Mrs.  Gridley  to  look  about  for  a  wider  sphere.  Ever  de- 
sirous of  progressing  in  the  intellectual  realm,  and  having  an  ambition 
to  keep  abreast  with  her  children's  studies,  she  sought  a  position  in  the 
public  schools  of  her  native  town,  where  for  seven  years  she  discharged 
her  duties  with  wonderful  ability.  The  death  of  her  son,  a  young  man 
of  promise,  was  a  terrible  blow  to  her,  and  in  order  to  escape  from  the 
associations  that  constantly  recalled  the  supreme  sorroAv  of  her  life, 
she  sought  another  change,  this  time  going  to  the  great  metropolis  of  the 
West,  and  without  difficulty  secured  a  position  as  society  editor  of  one 
of  the  leading  weeklies  of  Chicago.  Mrs.  Gridley  very  soon  became 
widely  known  for  her  clever  character  sketches.  Probably  Mrs.  Gridley 
has  written  as  many  pen  sketches  of  prominent  men  and  women,  if  not 
more,  than  any  other  literary  woman  in  our  country.  Her  work  during 
the  World's  Fair,  as  editor  of  the  woman's  department  of  the  official 
organ  of  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition,  w^as  strong  and  forceful, 
and  the  character  sketches  of  the  men  and  women  connected  with  the 
executive  board  of  the  Fair  were  unusuallv  clever  and  brilliant. 

Mrs.  Gridley  is  a  versatile  writer,  handling  her  subjects  with  grace 
and  dignity.  Her  descriptive  and  biographical  work  cannot  be  excelled. 
For  the  past  twelve  years  she  has  been  connected  with  the  leading 
periodicals  of  our  country. 

As  a  traveler,  Mrs.  Gridley's  experience  has  been  wide,  varied  and 
practical.  Her  "Wayside  Sketches  and  Country  Rambles"  gives  her 
readers  a  delightful  presentation  of  rural  life  in  Europe. 

Mrs.  Gridley  comes  of  good  old  stock,  her  ancestry  in  this  country 
dating  back  to  1633.  A  loyal  Daughter  of  the  American  Revolution, 
she  entered  this  influential  society  through  the  lineage  of  several  die- 

17 


18  SKETCH  OF   THE   AUTHOR'S  LIFE, 

tinguished  Revolutionary  heroes,  being  a  daughter  of  the  late  Judge  G» 
Thomson  Gridlej,  of  Jackson,  Michigan. 

Mrs.  Gridley  does  not  deny  that  she  is  grandmother  to  three  of  the 
sweetest  and  most  interesting  children  in  the  United  States.  The  two 
eldest,  little  maidens,  are  so  interested  and  touched  with  the  life  of 
Abraham  Lincoln,  as  told  to  them  by  her,  that  the  Great  Emancipator 
has  become  the  children's  real,  actual  friend. 

Mrs.  Gridley's  lectures  on  the  Life  of  Lincoln,  before  the  public 
schools,  have  been  the  subject  of  most  favorable  comments.  Among 
them  is  the  following  from  Prof.  W.  G.  Coburn,  superintendent  of  public 
schools,  Battle  Creek,  Mich.:  "I  wish  to  tell  you  how  much  the  pupils 
and  teachers  of  the  Battle  Creek  public  schools  enjoyed  your  lecture  on 
the  Life  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  We  were  all  delighted  with  it,  and  I  be- 
lieve impressions  of  the  goodness  and  greatness  of  Abraham  Lincoln 
were  left  in  the  minds  of  the  pupils  that  will  remain  with  them  all  their 
lives. 

"You  touched  upon  incidents  in  the  life  of  Lincoln  not  usually  given 
by  his  biographers,  and  incidents,  too,  that  appeal  to  the  young  mind 
in  such  a  way  that  Lincoln's  life  seems  more  real  to  them.  I  can  heartily 
endorse  your  lecture,  and  can  say  it  is  the  finest  lecture  on  the  life  of 
Abraham  Lincoln,  for  young  people,  I  have  ever  heard." 

Mrs.  Gridley  has  in  a  series  of  practical  talks  enthused  and  awakened 
the  interest  of  the  young  students  to  such  an  extent  that  in  many  schools 
a  special  course  including  the  study  of  the  life  of  Lincoln  has  been  in- 
augurated. As  Secretary  of  the  Lincoln  Log  Cabin  Association,  she 
needs  no  better  testimonial  than  the  one  given  by  the  President  of  the 
association,  inscribed  on  page  8  of  this  book.  G.  S. 


CHAPTER  I. 
"A  TRIP  TO  THE  OLD  LOG  CABIN" 

IT  WAS  under  the  patronage  of  the  "Lincoln  Log  Cabin  Association/' 
and  by  whom  I  had  been  engaged  to  write  this  story,  that  on  the 
evening  of  June  eighteenth,  1891,  I  left  Chicago  for  Farmington, 
Illinois.  With  me  were  the  officers  of  the  organization,  who  had  made 
arrangements  that  I  should  stay  at  the  "Old  Log  Cabin,'*  the  homestead 
of  Thomas  Lincoln.  A  cabin  so  replete  with  memories  of  one,  who,  al- 
though of  poor  and  lowly  parentage,  yet  rose  to  eminence,  honor  and 
greatness.  From  it  there  came  the  chosen  representative  of  a  mighty 
people  and  one  of  the  greatest  historical  characters  of  the  world,  our 
martyred  President,  Abraham  Lincoln. 

THE    EX-CONFEDERATE    SOLDIER 

Our  party  consisted  of  four  persons,  the  president,  who  had  formu- 
lated the  plans  of  the  association;  the  treasurer,  Colonel  F.  R  South- 
maid,  a  brave  and  gallant  ex-confederate  officer;  Miss  Coleman,  a 
stenographer,  who  had  proffered  her  services  for  the  privilege  of  accom- 
panying us,  and  myself.  We  were  an  enthusiastic  company,  each  one 
deeply  interested  in  the  objects  of  the  association.  Colonel  Southmaid 
had  secured  the  cabin  and  the  land  upon  which  it  stood,  and  had  made 
arrangements  for  the  removal  of  the  structure  to  Chicago.  My  work 
was  to  obtain  from  the  relatives  and  friends  of  the  Lincoln  family  such 
facts  as  would  make  the  records  of  the  society  complete.  We  boarded 
the  train  at  the  Union  depot  and  were  soon  steaming  away  across  the 
Prairie  State. 

MY  MOTHER  KNEW  UNCLE  ABE 

The  night  was  still  and  uneventful,  the  sleeping  car  was  hot  and 
poorly  ventilated,  but  the  nature  of  our  visit  and  its  anticipated  results 

19 


20  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

exhilarated  us  to  such  an  extent  that  neither  my  companion  nor  myself 
heeded  the  trip.  To  mortals,  both  old  and  young,  all  things  bad,  aye, 
pleasant,  too,  must  end,  and  just  at  break  of  day  we  pulled  into  the 
little  town  of  Mattoon,  nearly  two  hundred  miles  south  of  Chicago, 
where  our  journey  by  rail  was  completed.  A  hungrier  and  more  forlorn 
company  never  alighted  from  a  railroad  train.  We  walked  about  the 
town  for  some  time  in  search  of  food,  and  it  was  with  great  difficulty 
that  we  finally  found  friendly  shelter  and  something  to  eat.  We  were 
agreeably  surprised  and  delighted  when  we  discovered  a  signboard,  on 
which  were  traced  the  familiar  words,  "Eating  House."  The  landlady 
opened  the  door  in  response  to  our  loud  and  emphatic  knock.  We  told 
our  story,  and  then  asked  for  quick  service.  Her  face  lighted  up  and  she 
said,  "My  mother  knew  Uncle  Abe;  there  isn't  anything  that  I  wouldn't 
do  for  you  all."  In  a  little  while  a  warm  and  appetizing  meal  was 
served.  The  boy  readers  of  my  story  will  surely  appreciate  the  quantity 
of  good  things  that  were  stored  away  by  our  hungry  party. 

THE    GRAVE    OF    LINCOLN^S    FATHER 

At  exactly  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  a  turnout,  which  had 
been  engaged  for  us  by  telegram  through  the  courtesy  and  thoughtful- 
ness  of  our  escort,  the  superintendent,  dashed  up  to  the  restaurant. 
We  entered  the  carriage  and  were  rapidly  driven  through  the  streets 
of  the  country  town  and  out  into  the  green  world  where  nature  was 
just  awakening.  The  birds  carolled,  a  dewy  fragrance  tilled  the  air, 
and  the  glorious  sun  sprang  into  brilliant  splendor.  We  bowled  along 
right  merrily.  A  drive  of  nearly  two  hours  brought  us  to  a  plain 
little  church  surrounded  by  the  old-fashioned  graveyard.  We  drew 
rein  and  tied  our  horses  for  we  had  been  told  that  the  remains  of 
Thomas  Lincoln,  the  President's  father,  were  buried  here. 

THE    FAMILY    IViONUWIENT 

Passing  through  the  stile  we  stepped  within  the  enclosure,  and 
there,  nearly  in  the  center  of  God's  acre,  stood  an  unpretentious  shaft 
bearing  the  following  inscription: 


"^  TRIP  TO  THE  OLD  LOG  CABIN:'  U 

THOMAS  LIN(X)LN, 

Father  of 

The  Martyred  President. 

Born 

Jan.  6, 1778. 

Died 
Jan.  15,  1851. 

We  stood  beside  it  with  uncovered  heads  and  silent  tongues,  each 
reflecting  upon  the  uncertainty  of  life,  until  the  stillness  was  broken 
by  one  of  the  party,  who  began  to  speculate  upon  the  character  and 
life  of  the  humble  old  man,  the  father  of  one  who  became  a  central 
figure  in  our  nation's  history.  But  we  were  soon  interrupted  by  a  more 
practical  member  of  the  party,  who  said,  "Time  is  fleeting  and  we  must 
proceed  on  our  journey,  if  we  wish  to  see  the  Old  Cabin  to-day." 

THE    HILLSIDE    COTTAGE 

A  ride  of  about  thirty  minutes  completed  our  journey.  A  small 
and  unostentatious  cottage  met  our  view  and  we  were  told  by  the  driver 
that  this  was  the  home  of  Mr.  John  J.  Hall,  a  nephew  of  Thomas  Lincoln 
and  a  cousin  of  President  Lincoln,  and  now  possessor  of  the  old  farm  and 
late  owner  of  the  historic  cabin,  where  he  and  his  family  had  lived 
since  the  year  1851.  Only  within  the  last  year  had  the  family  moved 
into  the  new  house.  Of  course  we  were  all  interested  and  excited,  and 
questions  and  exclamations  poured  in  from  all  sides.  One  said,  "Why,  I 
don't  see  any  old  log  cabin.  Where  is  it?"  Another  followed  with, 
"How  far  away  is  it,  and  are  we  going  to  it  now?"  We  were  pacified 
with  the  good  news  that  after  an  introduction  to  our  host  he  would 
accompany  us  to  the  spot  and  we  should  be  allowed  to  enter  and  view 
its  interior.  We  descended  from  our  comfortable  vehicle  and  a  small 
but  excited  procession  filed  into  the  little  cottage,  where  we  met  the 
'nmates  of  the  humble  home. 

INTRODUCTION    TO    UNCLE    JOHN    HALL 

Our  host,  in  a  quiet  and  cordial  manner,  extended  the  right  hand 
of  fellowship  and  we  were  invited  to  make  ourselves  "to  hum."  I 
could  not  repress  n\j  thoughts  and  at  once  told  him  how  strongly  he 


22  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

resembled  his  honored  relative.     Mr.  Hall  smiled  and  said,  "Yes,  I 
reckon  I  du,  IVe  been  told  that  nigh  onto  a  hunderd  times." 

We  were  asked  if  we  did  not  wish  a  drink  of  cold  water,  to  which 
invitation  we  eagerly  and  affirmatively  responded.  Sis,  Mr.  HalPs 
daughter,  was  called  to  wait  upon  us,  and  as  she  dropped  the  small  iron 
kettle  into  the  well  and  drew  it  up  hand  over  hand  we  looked  at  the 
bare-foot  lassie  and  sighed  for  her  strength  and  robust  youth.  She 
brought  up  the  cooling  draught  and  greeted  each  one  with  a  pleasant 
"howdy,  howdy,  I'm  glad  to  see  ye.  Take  off  yer  things  and  stay 
awhile. '* 

PRESIDENT    ADAMS^    PICTURE 

Glancing  curiously  about  the  small  front  room  called  the  parlor, 
hoping  to  find  some  relic  or  memento  of  the  great  man  and  his  family, 
I  ventured  the  question:  "Have  you  not  something  that  you  brought 
up  from  the  old  cabin?"  With  a  sorrowful  shake  of  the  head  my  host 
mournfully  replied:  "No,  no!  not  much;  they  stole  almost  all  I  had. 
Why,  thare  wus  Tom  Johnston,  Uncle  John  D.  Johnston's  boy,  stole 
een  a  most  all  the  things  that  grandpap  and  grandmarm  Lincoln  hed. 
He'd  come  up  to  the  old  cabin  to  see  us  after  Uncle  Abe  got  to  be 
President,  purtendin'  all  the  time  to  be  orful  friendly,  and  jest  a«  soon 
as  I'd  go  out  on  the  farm  to  work  he^d  make  off  with  somethin'.  I  hed 
an  old  copy  book  of  Uncle  Abe^s  whare  he  use  to  do  his  sums.  Why, 
it  wus  writ  all  over  with  Uncle  Abe^s  words  and  picters  he'd  drawed 
jest  as  natural  as  could  be.  He  wus  awful  fond  of  Henry  Clay  and 
John  Adams,  and  he  drawed  a  picter  of  Adams  with  a  bald  head  jest 
as  he  use  to  be.  Wall,  Tom  Johnston  took  the  hull  of  that  book  and 
only  left  me  jest  one  leaf,  which  said  on  it,  in  Uncle  Abe's  hand  writin' 
tu,  these  words: 

"  ^Abraham  Lincoln,  his  hand  and  pen, 
He  will  be  groat,  but  God  knows  when.' 

TOM    JOHNSTON    STOLE    THE    MISSING    LEAF 

Why,  I  tell  you,  Tom  Johnston  had  a  chance  to  make  lots  of  money 
out  of  the  things  be  stole  from  me,  cause  Uncle  Abe  give  him  a  pass 


''A  TRIP  TO  THE  OLD  LOG  CABIN/'  23 

to  go  all  over  the  army  takin'  picters  and  he  sold  the  hull  of  that  book, 
leaf  by  leaf.  But,  I  tell  yer,  folks  can't  do  what  is  wrong  but  they  get 
their  pay  fur  it,  'cause  yer  know  it  has  got  to  be  so.  Why,  after  Uncle 
Abe  was  killed  and  there  wus  no  one  to  take  him  up  Tom  come  up  to 
me  sick  nigh  unto  death  and  without  a  cent.  He  said  he^d  spent 
everything  he  hed  and  wus  a  poor,  miserable  critter  and  he'd  no  whare 
to  lay  his  head.  Wall,  I  took  pity  on  him  and  told  him  he  could  stay 
with  me.  He  wus  an  orful  sick  man  and  never  did  a  stroke  of  work 
fur  two  years.  I  hed  to  feed  him,  clothe  him,  pay  the  doctor,  and  bury 
him." 

The  old  man  continued  to  tell  us  of  the  unkind  and  dishonest  tricks 
that  Uncle  John  D.  Johnston's  son  had  played  upon  him,  "upon  Grand- 
marm  Lincoln,  upon  Abr'm  tu  and  the  balance  of  the  relative,"  but  we 
were  getting  impatient  for  a  sight  of  the  famous  log  cabin  and  we  asked 
our  host  to  guide  us  to  the  spot.  After  sitting  a  few  minutes  longer  he 
kindly  but  coolly  informed  us  he  "must  go  to  Farmington,  and  that  we 
could  go  right  on  down  to  the  cabin  and  he'd  be  along  almost  afore  we 
got  there."  When  Mr.  Hall  left  for  Farmington  two  or  three  neighbors, 
who,  having  heard  of  our  arrival,  had  called  to  see  us  for  the  purpose  of 
adding  their  mite  to  the  fund  of  information,  volunteered  to  show  us 
the  way. 

THE    OLD    LOG    OABIN 

Our  party  started  across  lots  and  after  walking  through  brush  and 
stubble  and  meadow  we  arrived  at  the  old  cabin.  As  we  came  in 
sight  of  it  we  stopped  and  gazed  at  it  in  wonder.  Weather  beaten, 
dilapidated,  and  pitifully  forlorn,  it  stood  before  us,  a  reminder  of  the 
hardships,  toil,  and  privations  that  the  poor  but  honest  folk  had  under- 
gone. Its  sad  and  homely  loneliness  appealed  to  our  emotion*,  and 
before  we  realized  how  the  pathos  of  a  deserted  homestead  could 
affect  us,  silent  and  honest  tears  paid  tribute  to  the  memory  of  this 
once  struggling  household.  Colonel  Soutlimaid,  the  confederate  sol- 
dier, brushing  a  tear  from  his  cheek,  began  to  repeat  aloud  a  verse  of 
his  own  composition.  We  gathered  about  him,  and  listened  to  the  fol- 
lowing quaint  poem: 


34  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

"In  mute  but  wondrous  eloquence  it  stands, 

Inspiring  lofty  hope  and  noble  aim, 
For  these  rude  logs  were  fastened  by  the  hand 

That  from  a  race  in  bondage  broke  the  chain, 
And  caused  the  sun  of  liberty  to  shine 

On  lands  made  dark  by  Slavery's  cruel  strife. 
A  noble  nation  issued  from  his  hand — 

A  nation's  glory  issued  from  his  life." 

"From  roof  and  pane  and  sill  and  rough  laid  flooi 

A  lesson  grand  its  loftiness  does  show; 
Though  Lincoln's  voice  is  still  for  ever  more 

(That  noble  life  by  treacherous  hands  laid  low), 
Still  lives  this  lowly  task  done  by  his  hands 

And  to  us  all  this  lesson  it  unfolds: 
^Be  true,  and  there's  no  bar  to  highest  stand 

Within  your  country's  gift  and  love  to  hold.' '' 


ELEANOR    GRIDLEY. 


EARLY    CARPENTRY    WORK. 

The  above  picture  shows  the  east  end  of  the  Lincoln  Log  Cabin  and  the  rude  clapboards 
that  Abraham  Lincoln  and  his  father  hewed  with  no  other  tool  than  a  drawing  knife. 


REAR   OF    THE    LINCOLN    LOG    CABIII. 

The  ox-yoke  hanging  on  the  outside  wall  was  used  upon  the  neck  of  one  of  the  oxen  driven 

by  Abraham  Lincoln  when  the  family  moved  from  Indiana  to  the  State  of 

Illinois.   The  wooden  maul  underneath  the  ox-yoke  was  made 

bv  Abraham  Lincoln  when  nineteen  years  of  age. 


CHAPTER  II. 

WHAT  THE  OLD   LOG  CABIN   REVEALED 

THE  cabin  standing  back  from  the  road  about  eighty  rods  was 
situated  upon  a  slight  eminence.  A  good  view  of  the  surround- 
ing country  was  obtained,  and  as  we  glanced  over  the  fields  of 
ripening  grain  we  wondered  how,  from  a  tract  of  tangled  brush  and 
sturdy  oak,  so  much  wealth  and  beauty  could  have  grown.  At  this 
juncture  in  our  investigations  and  while  we  were  still  talking  of  the 
change  between  now  and  then,  w^e  espied  our  host  cutting  crosslots, 
who,  upon  hearing  our  remarks,  said:  "Why,  bless  ye,  ye  couldn't 
imagine  the  difference.  The  trees  wus  so  thick  when  we  cum  here 
we  couldn't  see  nowhare.  Grandpap  and  Uncle  Abe  and  Uncle  John 
D.  Johnston  jest  cleared  away  a  little  spot  right  over  there,  pointing 
to  the  cornfield  a  few  rods  to  the  east  of  us,  and  purty  soon  they  hed 
up  a  right  smart  house  which  is  the  east  room  of  this  yere  cabin.  It 
stood  over  there  alone  for  a  while,  then  grandpap  and  the  boys  built  the 
west  room  and  moved  the  other  house  over  here  and  jined  it  onto  the 
new  part.  Why,  ye  ought  to  hev  been  around  here  in  those  days ;  the 
wild-cats,  wolves,  panthers,  and  other  varmint  wus  as  thick  as  bees 
around  a  molasses  pot.  Lots  of  times  we've  heerd  the  wolves  chasing 
the  dogs  under  the  house  and  snarling  and  snapping  at  'em  till  yer 
hair  would  stand  on  end  and  the  cold  chills  would  run  all  over  ye." 

THE    RED    SKINS 

We  looked  about  and  imagined  that  time  had  turned  backward 
and  wondered  if  the  denizens  of  former  days  would  spring  from  their 
long  repose  and  devour  us.  Pretending  to  be  frightened.  Miss  Coleman 
turned  to  Mr.  Hall  and  in  an  assumed  tone  of  fear  asked  him,  "Are 
there  any  of  the  'original  natives'  around  here  now?"  Our  host 
inquired  if  she  meant  the  red  skins,  and  when  answered  in  the  affirma- 

25 


26  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

tive  he  stared  at  her  and  said:  "Not  uow,  Miss,  but  there  wus  plenty 
of  'em,  plenty  of  'em,  the  red  devils,  back  in  Kantucky  where  Grandpap 
and  Grandmarm  Lincoln  used  to  live,  and  some  day  I'll  tell  ye  how 
grandpap  come  near  being  killed  by  'em  when  he  wus  a  little  boy,  and 
if  thet  had  happened,  there'd  been  no  Uncle  Abe,  nuther  would  ye  hev 
hed  him  for  the  President  of  this  yere  United  States," 

THE    FAMOUS    SHINGLES 

Before  we  ventured  into  the  sacred  and  deserted  cabin  an  old  well 
was  pointed  out,  while  our  host  sadly  reflected  upon  the  happy 
times  when  gTandpap  and  grandmarm  and  the  boys  were  all  here. 
"We  were  contented  and  peaceful  then,"  said  he,  "and  we  all  worked 
together.  Why,  only  look  at  those  logs  made  of  shaking  asp;  grand- 
pap and  Uncle  Abe  cut  down  the  tree»,  hewed  and  scored  'em,  and  the 
shingles  what  is  on  the  roof  of  the  west  room,  grandpap  made  every 
one  of  'em  and  it  took  him  full  six  months  to  get  'em  all  out." 

THE    HISTORICAL    CANE 

As  I  bethought  me  of  the  privations  that  the  Lincoln  family  had 
undergone  I  asked  how  they  got  their  food  and  what  they  had  for 
meat?  "Meat,  did  ye  say?  Why,  plenty  of  it  and  the  best  in  the  land. 
Turkey,  prairie  chicken  and  deer,  lots  of  deer,  wild  rabbits  and  other 
critters.  One  time  after  Uncle  Abe  hed  left  hum  and  hed  been  gone 
fur  a  good  while,  we  heerd  somebody  come  crounching  through  the 
woods,  and  when  we  looked  out  of  the  winder  there  wus  Uncle  Dennis 
Hanks  with  a  rifle  over  his  shoulder  and  Uncle  Abe  carrying  two 
squirrels  that  Uncle  Dennis  had  shot.  Uncle  Abe  hed  come  up  to  see 
us  and  got  off  the  cars  at  Charleston,  stopped  for  Uncle  Dennis,  and 
they  walked  over  through  the  w^oods.  This  wus  after  Uncle  Abe  got 
to  be  a  big  man  but  he  looked  jest  as  be  allers  did  and  acted  jest  the 
same.  After  he  hed  sot  and  talked  with  us  a  little  while,  he  went  out 
and  begun  to  chop  wood,  and  that  night  he  writ  a  long  while,  tu.  Yer 
see  we  were  allers  so  glad  to  hev  him  come  up  fur  he'd  do  jest  as  he  use 
to  when  he  wus  a  boy  and  would  make  us  feel  so  happy.  I  hev  often 
seen  him  climb  the  saplings  and  twist  the  limbs  and  tie  'em  together 


WHAT  THE  OLD  LOG  CABIN  REVEALED.  27 

and  say,  ^Now  we'll  see  how  they'll  look  when  I  come  agin/  I  hev 
seed  him  do  that  lots  of  times.  Shore  nufif,  when  he'd  come  agin  he^d 
hev  a  good  cane.  I  believe  one  of  these  canes  that  he  twisted  wus 
saved  and  taken  to  Springfield." 

GRAVES    ELEGY 

Mr.  Hall  now  escorted  the  little  party  into  the  cabin,  and  the  abso- 
lute homeliness  and  poverty  of  its  interior  struck  me  so  painfully  that 
I  was  reminded  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  own  words  when  asked  concerning  his 
young  days.  "Why,"  said  he,  "it  is  a  great  piece  of  folly  to  attempt  to 
make  anything  out  of  me  or  my  early  life.  It  can  all  be  put  into  a 
single  sentence,  and  that  sentence  you  will  find  in  Gray's  Elegy,  ^The 
short  and  simple  annals  of  the  poor.'  That's  my  life,  and  that's  all 
any  one  can  make  of  it." 

GRANDMA    LINCOLN'S    JOHNNY    BREAD 

We  were  obliged  to  stoop  in  order  to  enter  the  low  doorway.  We 
paused  and  looked  about  the  east  room.  Silent,  so  silent,  and  only  the 
twitter  of  the  swallows,  which  had  builded  their  nests  in  the  chimney, 
disturbed  the  stillness.  A  huge  fireplace  greeted  us,  and  the  few  cook- 
ing utensils  used  by  the  family  still  stood  in  their  accustomed  places. 
From  a  long  iron  hook  hung  suspended  the  old  pot  and  near  to  it 
stood  a  cracked  and  broken  tea  kettle.  In  sheer  despair  I  asked  if 
these  were  all  the  utensils  that  the  family  had  for  cooking  purposes, 
to  which  question  Mr.  Hall  proudly  and  quickly  responded.  "Oh,  no, 
grandmarm  had  a  nice  iron  pan  which  she  baked  corn  bread  in.  Why, 
she'd  jest  stand  it  up  afore  the  fireplace  and  as  soon  as  it  wus  brown 
she'd  slap  it  right  over  on  tother  side,  and  purty  soon  we'd  hev  a  cake 
fit  for  the  king  to  eat.  We  allers  knowed  when  we  wus  goin'  to  hev 
corn  bread,  cause  grandpap  'ud  take  down  the  corn  raker  and  grate 
away  fur  all  he  wus  worth  fur  a  hull  afternoon,  and  then  hurrah  for 
the  Johnny  bread." 

My  eyes  roamed  about  and  a  single  glance  revealed  so  much 
that  I  could  not  repress  the  many  questions  that  filled  my  mind. 
Mr.   Lincoln  did   not  sleep  in  this  room,  did  he?    I   asked.     "After 


^8  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

he  left  home  and  for  the  first  few  years,"  Mr.  Hall  answered,  "he 
allers  slept  in  the  loft,  but  when  he  got  to  be  a  lawyer  he  slept  on 
a  bunk  that  we  made  and  put  it  right  over  there,"  pointing  to  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  new  room,  "so  that  he  could  be  near 
grandpap  and  grandmarm."  Mr.  Hall  rambled  on  and  told  us  how 
"Uncle  Abe  never  did  eat  much  nor  had  any  chise  about  his  vittels. 
Grandmarm  'ud  allers  try  to  fix  something  defferent  for  him  to  eat 
but  he  didn^t  seem  to  notice  as  how  she  had  cooked  anything  onusual. 
He  allers  appeared  to  be  thinking  and  thinking.  I  remember  one  time 
when  he  come  to  visit  us,  after  he  got  to  be  a  big  man  and  wore  a  high 
hat,  we  killed  two  or  three  or  four  hens  and  a  turkey  and  the  old 
neighbors  come  in  and  brought  some  more  things  to  eat,  and  Uncle 
Abe  told  'em  curus  stories  but  he  seemed  jest  the  same  as  ever  and 
grandmarm  said,  squeezing  her  hands  together,  I  reckon  Abe  '11  be  the 
President  of  the  United  States  some  day,  but  Uncle  John  D.  Johnston 
said,  "Sho'j  old  woman,  your  brain  is  cracked." 

THE    OLD    SPINMING    WHEEL 

We  now  passed  into  the  west  room  and  looked  upon  the  "very  spot" 
where  Mr.  Lincoln  had  often  slept  after  "he  got  to  be  a  big  man."  In 
the  further  corner  stood  the  bedstead  upon  which  the  President's 
father  and  mother  had  also  slept  and  upon  which  they  both  had  died. 
An  old  spinning  wheel  stood  near  the  bedstead;  it  was  now  broken 
and  useless,  still  and  silent,  a  homely  and  forlorn  object.  Its  silence 
was  sad  and  pathetic,  but  listen!  again  the  whir  and  buzz  of  the 
wheel  was  heard,  and  in  fancy  we  saw  the  dear  old  lady  look  up  from 
her  work  and  greet  the  av/kward  boy,  as  he  came  strolling  in  and  threw 
himself  upon  the  floor  before  the  fireplace.  Could  the  wheel  have 
spoken  and  told  the  story  of  the  days  long  past,  it  would  have  un- 
folded a  tale  of  pride  and  joy,  for  beneath  the  touch  of  the  mother's 
hand  and  the  throb  of  the  mother's  heart  the  woof  and  web  of  grand 
apparel  was  formed. 

THOrVlAS    LINCOLN^S    FIRST    LOVE 

Mr.  Hall  broke  the  spell,  and  we  listened  for  the  wonderful  tale, 
but  he  simply  said:    "Grandmarm  wus  a  mighty  industrous  woman. 


ABE'S    FIRST   LECTURE— CRUELTY   TO   ANIMALS. 


THOMAS   LINCOLN    MOVING. 

Abe  wades  back  and  rescues  the  dog. 


WHAT  THE  OLD  LOG  CABIN  REVEALED.  29 

She  never  wus  idle  no  how,  but  allers  a  doing  for  somebody  else.  Ye 
know  she  wus  grandpapas  second  wife  and  Uncle  Abe's  stepmother,  but 
she  never  made  no  difference  twixt  the  two  families  no  how.  Why, 
grandpap  ust  to  court  her  afore  he  married  Uncle  Abe's  mother,  but 
somehow  they  didn't  make  a  go  of  it  for  grandpap  married  Nancy 
Hanks  and  grandmarm  she  man*ied  Daniel  Johnston,  Uncle  John  D. 
Johnston's  father.  Arter  a  while,  you  know,  grandpap  lost  his  first 
wife  and  grandmarm  her  first  husband,  and  it  warn't  long  afore 
grandpap  went  to  see  her  down  at  Elizabethtown,  Kantucky,  and  they 
got  married  right  away.  Grandmarm  ust  to  say,  ^It  jest  seems  as  if 
Providence  intended  that  Tom  and  me  should  be  hitched  together  arter 
all.'  Why,  none  of  us  knowed  that  she  warn't  Uncle  Abe^s  mother  till 
arter  he  got  to  be  a  man.  I  hev  often  heered  grandmarm  tell  how  she 
hed  two  suits  of  clothes  for  her  boy  when  grandpap  married  her,  and 
to  hev  Abe  as  well  dressed  as  her  own  boys  she  sewed  a  piece  on  the 
bottom  of  one  of  her  own  boy's  pants  to  make  each  hev  a  even  suit  of 
clothes,  one  as  much  as  tother." 

THE    BILL    OF    FARE 

We  discussed  the  cause  of  lengthening  Uncle  Abe^s  pants  and 
finally  settled  that  he  was  always  "long-geared." 

A  summons  from  the  house  now  informed  us  that  dinner  was  ready. 
We  were  very  hungry  and  promptly  obeyed  the  call  and  hastened  to  "the 
little  cottage  on  the  hillside,"  where  a  plain  but  bountiful  meal  was 
served.  Salt  pork  and  corn  bread  was  the  first  course,  corn  bread  and 
salt  pork  the  second  course,  sorghum,  hot  biscuits  and  clabber  were 
served  as  dessert.  During  the  meal  I  glanced  about  cautiously  and  dis- 
covered that  the  room  was  like  the  old  lady's  bag,  a  receptacle  for  many 
things  and  served  many  purposes.  A  large  old-fashioned  stove  stood  in 
the  further  corner  and  added  more  than  ten  degrees  to  the  summer  tem- 
perature. As  I  had  promised  to  remain  at  the  home  of  Mr.  Hall  and 
seek  from  the  old  neighbors  and  friends  anecdotes  of  and  incidents 
relating  to  Mr.  Lincoln's  early  life,  there  rose  before  my  mental  vision 
the  lurid  glare  of  the  July  sun  and  the  torrid  midsummer  atmosphere, 
and  I  felt  inclined  to  beat  a  hasty  retreat. 


30  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

A  glance  over  my  shoulder  revealing  a  bed  which  stood  in  the  corner 
opposite  the  stove,  untidy  and  soiled  in  appearance,  did  not  assist 
my  appetite,  and  when  Sis  informed  us  that  "Little  Joe  and  paw  slept 
there"  silence  reigned,  and  neither  comment  nor  remark  was  made  by 
either  guests  or  host. 

THE    COUNTRY    GIRUS    TRUE    POLITENESS 

At  three  in  the  afternoon  two  of  our  party  departed.  My  companion, 
the  "pretty  typewriter,"  and  I  were  left  alone  with  the  prospect  of  a 
three  weeks^  stay.  However,  before  good-byes  had  been  said,  we 
exacted  a  promise  from  our  friends  that  they  would  keep  us  in  reading 
matter.  We  watched  their  retreating  figures  from  the  brow  of  the  hill, 
and  with  a  sense  of  anticipated  loneliness  approached  the  house  and 
sought  the  companionship  of  the  household.  No  doubt  we  looked  as  we 
felt,  for  Sis,  the  host's  daughter,  said:  "Don't  look  so  sad,  I'll  do  all  I 
ken  fur  ye  all."  Miss  Coleman  and  I  looked  at  each  other.  Shame  crept 
up  into  our  eyes  and  burned  our  cheeks.  This  poor,  uneducated  girl, 
with  no  advantages,  no  comforts,  even  lacking  the  ordinary  necessities 
and  delicacies  of  life,  never  having  been  ten  miles  from  her  home  and 
always  at  work  from  early  morning  until  late  in  the  evening,  proposed 
to  comfort  us.  Surely  here  was  an  example  of  innate  culture  at  last. 
So  we  smiled  and  thanked  her,  and  in  our  confusion  made  poor  work  in 
trying  to  tell  her  that  we  hoped  to  make  her  happy  during  our  stay. 

FEBRUARY    12,   1809 

The  afternoon  dragged  its  quiet  hours  along.  Miss  Coleman  lay 
upon  the  cool  grass,  under  the  shadow  of  the  spreading  oak,  and  fell 
asleep,  while  I  reverted  to  a  period  long  past  when  there  came  into  the 
world  a  little  baby  boy,  born  on  the  twelfth  day  of  February,  1809. 

I  wanted  to  talk  about  this  baby  boy,  and  was  impatient  to  interview 
Mr.  Hall,  who  no  doubt  could  tell  me  something  of  the  circumstances 
of  his  baby  days  and  early  boyhood. 

Time  passed  and  the  shadows  were  lengthening  and  still  Uncle 
John  did  not  return  from  his  errand  at  Farmington,  w^hither  he  had 
gone  directly  after  the  departure  of  our  Chicago  friends. 


WHAT  THE  OLD  LOG  CABIN  REVEALED.  31 

I  strove  to  recollect  all  that  I  had  ever  read  concerning  Abraham 
Lincoln  and  his  early  life,  but  the  accounts  were  meager  and  homely, 
and  I  knew  that  Mr.  Hall  would  tell  me  something  that  had  no  doubt 
escaped  the  historian. 

Mr.  Hall  tarried,  and  my  impatience  became  so  great  that  I  rose 

and  walked  about  the  little  yard  with  rapid  step.    Kealizing  that  such 

foolish  behavior  was  unbecoming  and  unwise  I  ventured  within  the 

house  and  sought  out  Sis,  w^hom  I  found  hard  at  work  in  the  hot 

kitchen. 

NO  TIIVIE  FOR  FOOLIN^ 

I  entreated  her  to  come  out  of  doors,  into  the  fresh,  pure  air,  and 
try  to  find  rest  and  comfort.  Sis  refused,  but  gave  no  plausible  excuse. 
Again  I  besought  her,  and  this  time  impressed  her  with  the  idea  that 
she  could  interest  and  entertain  me.  Again  she  refused,  and  I  insisted 
that  she  should  give  me  a  reasonable  reason. 

Twisting  about  on  one  foot  and  turning  her  face  away,  she  finally 
said,  "I  h'ain^t  got  no  time  for  to  be  foolin'.  Paw  said  I  must  get  some 
good  vittels  for  the  city  folks."  I  looked  at  the  poor,  distressed  girl, 
who  was  tired,  hot  and  embarrassed.  She  had  no  conveniences  or  com- 
forts, and  with  no  assistance  this  young  woman  w^as  striving  to  make 
her  guests  satisfied  and  contented. 

I  could  not  turn  away  from  so  much  distress  and  discomfort.  Catch- 
ing sight  of  an  apron  lying  across  a  chair  I  put  it  on  and  told  her  that 
I  should  wipe  the  dishes  and  continue  to  help  her  until  her  work  was 
finished  and  she,  too,  could  come  out  into  the  cooler  atmosphere  and 
pleasant  surroundings. 

The  pile  of  dishes  soon  disappeared  and  the  remainder  of  the  after- 
noon's work  was  accomplished.  The  tired  and  exhausted  girl  could 
now  take  time  to  breathe. 

Our  short  intercourse  of  work  and  conversation  had  given  me  an 
insight  into  the  girPs  homely  but  good-natured  character.  Sis  had  told 
me  of  her  beau,  of  the  new  calico  dress  that  she  was  going  to  have  for  the 
picnic  down  at  Berryville,  of  her  hard  and  lonely  labor,  and  of  her  desire 
to  go  to  Charleston,  where  Uncle  Abe  used  to  try  his  lawsuits. 


32  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

Then  I  asked  her  if  she  did  not  feel  glad  to  know  that  Mr.  Lincoln, 
the  President  of  the  United  States,  was  a  relative  of  hers,  though  a 
distant  one.  Looking  at  me  she  said :  "Wall,  I  low  that  I  never  thought 
about  that.  Paw  is  allers  talking  about  him,  but  that^s  'cause  he  seed 
him.  I  never  did,  and  I  low  1  wouldn't  know  him  if  he  should  come  right 
inter  that  door.'* 

Evening  was  coming  on,  and  the  master  of  the  house  had  not  yet 
returned.  Miss  Copeland  rejoined  me  and  Sis  re-entered  the  house  and 
began  preparations  for  the  evening  meal. 

Down  the  road  some  distance  there  appeared  two  figures.  They 
approached  and  halted  at  the  gate.  Entering,  the  men,  whom  we  novv^ 
discovered  were  Mr.  Hall  and  a  stranger,  came  over  to  rustic  seats  that 
had  been  placed  in  the  front  yard,  under  the  one  oak  tree,  and  greeted 
Miss  Copeland  and  myself. 

A  FRIEND  OF  LINCOLN 

Mr.  Hall  introduced  the  stranger.  He  was  an  aged  farmer,  who  lived 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  north  of  the  old  log  cabin,  and  had  been  a 
friend  of  Grandpap  Lincoln. 

Now  my  opportunity  had  arrived,  and  I  thought  that  what  the 
younger  man  did  not  know  about  Abraham  Lincoln's  early  childhood 
days  and  his  forefathers  the  older  man  might  know.  To  my  surprise 
and  delight  the  old  gentleman's  father  and  mother  had  moved  from  the 
same  locality  in  Kentucky  from  whence  Thomas  Lincoln  and  his  family 
had  emigrated  when  they  came  to  Indiana.  The  caller  informed  me 
that  he  had  often  heard  the  old  people  talk  over  together  their  early 
days,  and  he  would  be  glad  to  tell  me  all  that  he  could  remember. 

From  Mr.  Hall's  homely  record  of  the  life  in  Kentucky,  which  had 
been  handed  down  from  father  to  son,  no  doubt  losing  many  particular^ 
and  the  neighbor's  recollection,  I  framed  the  following  account  of  Abra* 
ham  Lincoln's  babyhood  and  boyhood  and  his  ancestors'  history. 


CHAPTER  111. 

FAMILY  INCIDENTS  GATHERED   FROM  RELATIVES 

IT  WAS  down  in  Kentucky  that  this  baby  was  born,  in  a  rude  and 
homely  cabin.  This  little  baby  boy  came  to  live  with  his  father 
and  mother  and  little  sister  Sarah,  but  two  years  older  than  him- 
self. His  father's  father  and  his  mother's  father  with  their  families 
had  moved  from  away  "down  East  in  Virginny"  some  years  before  and 
had  undertaken  to  establish  homes  in  a  wild  and  unbroken  country. 
Their  fathers  before  them  had  also  joined  the  march  of  immigration, 
leaving  England  and  seeking  a  home  in  the  New  World,  where  they 
might  find  better  and  freer  conditions.  They  settled  in  Massachusetts 
and  lived  for  some  time  in  New  England.  Again  the  ancestors  of  this 
poor  baby  boy  sought  another  new  home  and  they  moved  to  Virginia, 
where  they  lived  for  a  period  of  years.  Later  the  spirit  of  unrest  came 
upon  them,  and  with  friends  and  neighbors  and  relatives  they  jour- 
neyed to  the  then  far  West,  Kentucky,  where  they  met  with  such  hard- 
ships and  privations  as  they  had  never  before  encountered. 

THE    HOME    iN    THE    WILDERNESS 

The  daring  and  courageous  leader  of  this  later  day  pioneer  company, 
Abraham  Lincoln,  the  grandfather  of  the  baby  boy,  Abe,  secured  a  few 
acres  of  land  on  Floyd's  Creek  in  Bullitt  County,  Kentucky,  and  a  cabin 
was  built  near  a  stronghold  called  Fort  Beargrass,  now  the  city  of 
Louisville.  The  country  at  this  time  was  an  almost  unbroken  wilder- 
ness and  very  few  families  had  settled  in  that  locality.  These  early 
pioneers  were  brave,  hardy  and  venturesome  people,  for  there  were 
many  savages  in  this  region,  who  roamed  through  the  forests;  a  con- 
stant terror  and  treacherous  enemy.  The  red  man  was  now  becoming 
unusually  irritated  at  the  white  man,  whom  he  thought  was  taking  his 
land  from  him,  and  so  sought  to  stop  the  white  stranger  from  settling 

33 


U  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

by  killing  him;   therefore  the  Indians  made  single   attack    upon   the 
unguarded  man  or  fierce  onslaught  upon  the  little  settlements. 

THE    MURDER    OF    ABRAHAM    LINCOLN'S    GRANDFATHER 

The  family  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  grandfather  to  President  Lincolr, 
consisted  of  two  daughters  and  three  sons,  Mordicai,  Josiah  and  Thomas. 
With  his  young  boys'  assistance  the  father  began  to  cut  down  the  trees 
and  break  up  the  ground.  In  the  second  year  of  the  settlement,  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  was  at  work  in  the  forest  and  little  Thomas  was  standing 
near,  when  an  Indian  suddenly  appeared  and  attacked  the  father. 

Believing  that  the  readers  of  this  story  will  be  interested  in  a  rela- 
tive's recital  of  the  tragedy,  I  quote  Uncle  elohn  HalFs  exact  but  homely 
words. 

UNCLE    JOHN    HALL'S    EXACT    WORDS 

"Ye  see  grandpap  came  nigh  being  killed  tu  when  he  was  a 
little  feller;  that  was  when  the  family  lived  down  in  Kantucky. 
He  was  out  in  the  woods  with  his  father  and  his  Uncle  Mordicai, 
who  was  a  splitting  rails.  The  little  chap  was  only  six  years  old  and 
was  running  around  picking  flowers  when  he  looked  up  and  seed  a 
big  red  Injun  looking  him  right  in  the  face.  The  little  feller  yelled,  and 
grandpapas  father  started  to  run  for  him,  when  the  Injun  shot  him 
dead  on  the  spot.  Uncle  Mordicai  seed  what  had  happened,  and  run 
for  the  house,  carrying  little  Tommy  with  him,  getting  in  just  as  the 
Injun  was  ready  for  another  shot,  but  he  wus  tu  quick  for  him.  He  shet 
the  door  and  fired  from  the  winder  but  never  knowed  whether  he  killed 
him  or  not.  The  Injun  clared  out  and  when  Uncle  Mordicai  went  down 
to  the  fort  to  tell  the  news  he  follered  a  track  of  blood  for  a  long  dis- 
tance, and  that  wus  purty  good  evidence  that  somebody  had  been  hurt, 
anyhow." 

LINCOLN^S    FATHER    GOES    TO    ELI2ABETHTOWN 

The  poor  widow  was  now  left  to  care  for  a  family  of  five  fatherless 
children;  the  times  were  hard  and  poverty  oppressed  the  whole  country. 
History  tells  us  that  the  family  moved  to  Elizabethtown  in  Kentucky 


FAMILY  INCIDENTS  GATHERED  FROM  RELATIVES.  35 

where  relatives  and  friends  were  living.  In  these  small  settlements 
there  were  no  schools,  and  had  there  been,  the  family  was  too  poor  to 
obtain  even  the  meager  school  advantages  of  those  early  days.  The  chil- 
dren were  poor,  ignorant  and  squalid  and  Thomas  Lincoln  grew  up  lit- 
erally without  education.  He  could  neither  read  nor  write,  nor  did  he 
?are  to  acquire  any  knowledge.  Lazy  and  shiftless,  though  a  good- 
Jatured  boy,  he  consequently  did  not  become  an  industrious  nor  en- 
terprising man.  As  a  sort  of  makeshift,  he  tried  to  learn  the  carpenter's 
trade,  but  even  at  this  he  made  a  poor  living  and  was  always  a  working 
man,  only  serving  others.  So  the  years  went  by  until  he  reached  his 
twenty-eighth  year,  when  he  married  a  girl  named  Nancy  Hanks,  as 
poor  as  himself,  whose  people  had  also  moved  from  Virginia  and  settled 
in  Kentucky  at  about  the  same  time  that  Thomas  Lincoln's  father  did. 

MARRIAGE    OF    NANCY    HANKS    AND    THOMAS    LINCOLN 

There  was  no  announcement  of  the  engagement  as  there  is  to-day. 
Neither  were  there  wedding  guests  nor  bridal  festivities,  but  the  two 
were  simply  married  and  went  to  housekeeping  in  a  dilapidated  and 
miserable  log  cabin  which  stood  on  a  small  tract  of  land  in  La  Rue 
County,  Kentucky,  The  log  hut  overlooked  a  bright  little  stream  called 
Nolin's  Creek,  a  pretty  place,  for  the  natural  scenery  was  picturesque 
and  beautiful.  Thomas  Lincoln  did  not  improve  with  age  nor  with 
increasing  responsibilities.  He  was  still  the  same  kind  and  genial  "fel- 
low," but  grew  more  and  more  shiftless  and  good  for  nothing  as  the 
years  rolled  on.  The  farm  was  "rocky  and  weedy  and  scrubby,"  and 
he  did  not  cultivate  the  soil  nor  "fix  up"  the  old  shanty.  He  was  a 
carpenter  without  a  trade,  a  farmer  without  any  crops,  and  a  man  with- 
out energy  or  ambition.  He  loved  to  tell  stories,  to  make  the  boys  laugh, 
and  thus  his  precious  and  valuable  time  was  wasted  and  lost  forever. 

THE    NEW    BABY    BOY 

His  wife  was  really  a  superior  woman  for  those  days.  She  could 
read  and  write  and  was  sweet  and  gentle  in  her  manners  and  speech. 
She  loved  the  woods,  the  singing  birds  and  the  running  vines  and 
fragrant  flowers.    Her  household  duties  were  so  few  that  no  doubt  she 


36  THE  SrORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

spent  many  hours  communing  with  nature,  talking  to  the  birds  and 
flowers  and  longing  for  a  different,  a  sweeter,  a  better  and  a  more  joyful 
life.  One  day  there  came  into  her  life  a  baby  girl,  and  now  the  poor, 
sad-eyed  mother  had  something  to  love.  The  little  one  came  to  cheer 
and  comfort,  although  its  lot  was  hard  and  uncomfortable.  The  times 
grew  harder  and  money  scarcer,  and  still  the  father  did  not  strive  to 
lift  the  burden  or  assist  his  wife  in  her  household  cares.  The  miser- 
able cabin  was  falling  down,  and  even  unfit  for  a  stable,  when  one 
cold  February  day,  but  a  little  more  than  a  year  after  the  birth  of  the 
first  child,  a  baby  boy  came  to  the  miserable  home.  The  homely 
little  stranger  was  given  a  hearty  welcome  and  no  doubt  the  sick 
mother,  as  she  clasped  the  new-born  baby  to  her  tender  bosom,  pictured 
the  future  years,  and  saw  him  a  fine  grown  man,  her  pride,  her 
comfort  and  her  support.  Some  day  this  birthspot  will  be  the  mecca 
towards  which  thousands  and  thousands  will  journey  to  pay  homage 
to  the  memory  of  the  great  emancipator,  the  nation's  chieftain  and  the 

Martyred  President. 

DENNIS  HANKS  SEES  THE  BABY 

The  news  went  back  to  the  little  berg  of  Elizabethtown,  and  the 
neighbors  and  relatives  hurried  out  to  see  Nancy  Hanks'  "little  red  baby 
boy,"  as  his  cousin,  Dennis  Hanks,  called  him.  The  child  seemed  quite 
a  wonder  to  his  relatives,  for  at  a  very  early  age  he  gave  evidence  of  un- 
usual attractiveness  for  even  his  baby  homeliness  and  infantile  uncouth- 
ness  commanded  attention. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  BOY  ABE  AND   HIS  ANGEL  MOTHER 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN  never  forgot  his  mother,  and  his  earliest 
recollection  of  her,  was  of  sitting  at  her  feet  with  his  sister  Sarah 
and  listening  to  the  tales  and  legends  which  she  either  read  or 
related  to  her  little  family.  His  most  vivid  impression  of  his  mother 
was  her  life  of  hardship,  of  toil  and  of  unremitting  anxiety.  Yet  in  her 
restricted  way  she  did  everything  for  her  family.  She  could  handle  a 
gun  as  well  as  a  man,  and  many  a  time  she  brought  down  game,  either 
bird  or  animal,  which  she  skinned  and  dressed  and  cooked  for  her  chil- 
dren's food,  while  the  skins  of  the  larger  game  were  cured  and  made 
into  clothing  for  her  family.  The  boy  loved  and  revered  his  mother 
and  thought  that  she  could  do  everything,  and  so  she  did.  With  all 
the  monotony  of  homely  toil  and  daily  labor  she  found  time  to  teach 
her  boy,  "Little  Abe,"  to  read,  and  gave  him  daily  instruction  from 
the  Bible.  While  she  was  working  herself  to  death,  and  she  and  her 
family  suffering  for  even  the  bare  necessities  of  life,  yet  she  was  laying 
for  her  little  son  the  foundations  of  that  truth  and  honor  and  goodness 
and  sympathy  which  ever  after  endeared  him  tO'  the  hearts  of  his  family, 
his  friends,  his  neighbors,  and  his  associates,  and  the  nation  mourned 
when  their  beloved  joined  the  procession  of  Silent  Witnesses. 

THE    NEW    LOG    CABIN 

When  Abraham  Lincoln  was  about  four  years  old  his  father,  in 
some  way  which  no  one  has  been  able  to  explain,  obtained  a  much 
larger  and  better  farm.  It  was  only  a  few  miles  distant  from 
the  poor  little  patch  of  ground  that  the  family  had  formerly  occupied. 
It  was  even  more  beautifully  located  than  the  old  place  and  was  situated 
upon  the  banks  of  a  stream  called  Knob  Greek,  at  a  point  where  it  joined 
another  small  stream,  called  Piolling  Fork. 

37 


38  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

A  more  substantial  log  house  was  built,  and  Mrs.  Lincoln  hoped 
that  this  tract  of  land  would  be  worked  into  a  good  farm,  but  alas, 
Thomas  Lincoln  did  not  cut  short  his  story  telling  hours  nor  cease  to 
engage  in  his  hunting  trips;  so  only  a  small  portion  of  the  land  was 
cleared  and  merely  enough  food  raised  to  sustain  life. 

ABE^S    FIRST    SCHOOL 

Surrounded  by  these  hard  and  comfortless  conditions,  Abraham 
Lincoln  grew  into  boyhood.  He  had  received  no  advantages;  had  had 
none  of  the  childish  pleasures  that  make  the  child-home  seem  to  men 
in  after  years  a  castle  of  delight  and  ever-recurring  joy.  There  was  a 
little  log  school  house  quite  eight  miles  distant  from  the  home  of  Abra- 
ham Lincoln,  and  although  his  mother  was  discouraged  and  nearly 
broken  down  with  labor  of  the  roughest  and  severest  kind,  yet  she 
insisted  that  her  children  should  go  to  school,  and  thus  deprived  herself 
of  their  oftentimes  helpful  assistance.  The  scrawny,  half-fed  little  fel- 
low and  his  sister  trudged  off  through  the  forest  to  the  rude  and  com- 
fortless school  house,  with  nothing  but  com  bread  to  eat.  The  journey 
was  tiresome  and  the  instruction  that  the  children  obtained  from 
the  untutored  schoolmaster  of  that  day,  and  that  rough,  unsettled 
country,  was  very  unsatisfactory.  This  kind  of  schooling  was  all 
that  Abraham  Lincoln  ever  received,  and  all  put  together  would  not 
comprise  twelve  months.  The  boys  of  to-day  who  have  so  many  advant- 
ages, opportunities  and  comforts,  can  hardly  understand  how  Abraham 
Lincoln  became  the  great  lawyer,  the  distinguished  statesman,  the  na- 
tion's ruler  and  the  kindly  gentleman,  that  graced  the  executive  man- 
sion; whose  strong  and  forceful  character  made  him  dictator  over  distin- 
guished statesmen ;  whose  pitying  soul  urged  him  to  liberate  an  enslaved 
race;  and  whose  wisdom  and  prudence  and  integrity  and  honesty  of 
purpose  enabled  him  to  restore  to  peace  and  prosperity  and  reunion  a 

divided  country. 

ABE    PLAYS    TRUANT 

TTiis  queer  and  curious  little  fellow  living  on  Knob  Creek  did  not 
have  any  amusement  or  entertainment  except  such  as  originated  in 
his  own  mind.    He  had  naturally  inherited  some  of  his  father's  traits 


THE  BOY  ABE  AND  HIS  ANGEL  MOTHER,  39 

of  character,  and  did  not  really  like  to  work,   consequently  often 

concluded  to  lay  off.    Then  he  would  stray  away  into  the  woods  and 

watch  the  birds  and  animals  and  all  the  life  that  fills  a  great  forest;  by 

so  doing  he  worried  and  frightened  his  poor  mother,  who*  was  often 

obliged  to  hunt  him  up. 

LITTLE    JOE 

As  the  clock  struck  seven  we  were  called  to  supper,  where  the 
former  bill  of  fare  was  duplicated,  with  the  addition  of  cherry 
pie  for  a  wind-up.  During  the  evening  meal  the  door  was  uncere- 
moniously  opened  and  in  walked  the  eldest  son,  named  Squire  for 
his  Grandfather  Hall,  but  called  "Bud"  for  short.  We  exchanged 
greetings;  the  stalwart  young  fellow  was  hardly  seated,  when  in 
came  the  baby  of  the  family,  "Little  Joe,"  a  stripling  of  fourteen 
years  of  age,  who  told  us  that  he  intended  to  "see  something  of  the 
world,  and  was  coming  up  to  visit  Chicago  some  day." 

YOUNG    ABE 

Again  our  meal  was  interrupted  by  another  arrival,  and  a  quiet 
lad  with  solemn  mien  entered  and  silently  sat  him  down.  Our  host 
introduced  us  and  said  to  the  boy,  "Abe,  speak  to  the  ladies."  We  soon 
discovered  that  this  sixteen-year-old  boy  was  the  namesake  of  his  illus- 
trious ancestor,  but  after  carefully  scanning  every  feature  and  linea- 
ment, we  failed  to  trace  the  slightest  resemblance.  Nothing  seemed 
to  indicate  the  relationship,  except  the  lad's  awkward  and  clumsy 

manners. 

MILKED    DRY  / 

Retiring  from  the  supper  table  we  went  into  the  front  room, 
where  the  entire  family  had  gathered  to  listen  to  the  tale^  that  their 
father  might  relate  concerning  their  revered  relative.  In  answer  to 
my  questions,  Mr.  Hall  politely  and  kindly  responded,  and  when  I  sug- 
gested that  he  might  have  heard  from  old  Mrs.  Lincoln  some  anecdotes 
of  the  President's  childhood  he  said:  "So  many  writing  people  have 
been  around  thru  the  country  that  I  reckon  the  family  and  relatives 
are  all  milked  dry,"  but  without  further  objection  he  pointed  to  a 
picture  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  in  a  very  cheap  and  homely  frame,  hanging  on 


40  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

the  wall,  and  said;  "He  is  a  purty  solemn  looking  feller,  ain't  he?"  The 
question  rather  surprised  and  puzzled  me.  I  admitted  the  fact  that  he 
was  a  serious  looking  man,  but  suggested  that  Mr.  Lincoln  no  doubt 
played  and  frolicked  like  other  little  boys  when  he  was  a  child. 

THE    PRAYER    MEETING 

"I  reckon  not,"  Mr.  Hall  answered,  "for  grandmarm  said,  'even  when 
he  wus  a  little  feller  he  wus  allers  odd  and  quiet  and  curous,  and  onct 
w^hen  he  wus  a  very  little  boy  he  got  holt  of  a  sermon  book,  and  when 
he  wus  out  with  the  childern  he  carried  the  book  with  him  in  his  pocket 
and  proposed  to  the  childern  to  hev  a  little  meetin',  and  so  he  got  on  a 
log  or  a  stump  and  preached  out  of  the  book.  Then  he'd  call  on  his 
step-sister  to  sing,  after  he  hed  preached,  jest  as  they  do  to  church;  and 
then  he  would  pray  to  God  to  give  the  chickens  shoes  and  stockings  fur 
their  little  feet,  because  he  wus  affeared  they  would  freeze.' 

HOW  THE  PRESIDENT  WAS  SAVED 

"I  hev  heerd  Grandpap  Lincoln  tell  many  a  time  that  after  he  got 
a  little  older  and  begun  to  read  some,  he'd  never  play  with  the  other 
childern,  but  allers  wanted  to  be  readin',  and  was  not  satisfied  either 
till  he  know^'d  how  to  write,  and  that  Uncle  Dennis  Hanks  showed 
him  how  to  write  with  a  pen  made  from  a  buzzard's  quill,  that  some 
of  the  men  down  in  Kantucky  had  shot.  Uncle  Dennis  also  said,  'that 
the  feller  that  taught  school  down  near  Uncle  Abe's  home  didn't  know 
much  more  than  them  that  couldn't  teach  school,  and  so  most  of  the 
boys  played  hookey.  Uncle  Abe  with  the  rest,  though  he  was  a  little 
feller.'  One  day  when  Uncle  Abe  was  about  seven  years  old  he  thought 
he'd  play  in  the  woods  instead  of  going  to  school,  and  when  it  was 
about  time  for  school  to  let  out  Uncle  Abe  started  for  hum  alone,  and 
of  course  had  no  one  to  help  him  cross  the  creek,  which  wus  between 
his  father's  and  the  school-house.  It  was  a  warm  summer  afternoon 
and  Uncle  Dennis  was  picking  some  berries,  when  he  looked  up,  and 
who  should  he  see  but  little  Abe  a  tryin'  to  go  across  the  log  over  Knob 
Creek.  Uncle  Dennis  has  often  told  me  many  a  time  about  it,  and  he 
allers  said:    'I  made  up  my  mind  to  watch  him,  'cause  I  knowed  he  wus 


THE  BOY  ABE  AND  HIS  ANGEL  MOTHER,  41 

g^in'  to  fall  off  that  log,  and  the  creek  was  mighty  deep  and  swift,  so  I 

laid  still  and  waited,  and  shore  null,  up  w  mt  his  heels  and  down  went 

his  head  plump  into  the  water.    I  jest  jumped  into  the  creek  and  pulled 

him  out  and  ran  with  him  in  my  arms  to  Aunt  Nancy%,  and  told  her  to 

roll  little  Abe  on  her  knees  till  he  puked  up  the  water  that  he'd  swal- 

lered.    It  wus  a  good  while  before  the  water  come  up,  but  when  it  did  he 

wus  all  right/    Then  Uncle  Dennis  would  laugh  and  say,  'If  it  hadn't 

been  fer  me  the  United  States  wouldn't  have  hed  Abe  Lincoln  fer  a 

President.' " 

A    RELATIVE    OF    LINCOLN'S 

At  the  close  of  the  recital  of  this  little  anecdote  concerning  the 
rescue  of  the  "President,"  I  asked  Mr.  Hall  how  Uncle  Dennis  was  re- 
lated to  President  Lincoln?  He  thought  for  a  while  and  then  said, 
"Wall,  I  believe  Uncle  Dennis'  mother  and  Uncle  Abe^s  mother  wus 
sisters." 

Mr.  Hall's  family,  as  well  as  Miss  Coleman  and  myself,  were  so  inter- 
ested in  the  homely  stories,  which  so  pathetically  depicted  the  severe 
and  lonely  and  uncomfortable  life  that  came  to  Mr.  Lincoln  and  his 
parents,  that  we  continued  to  call  for  more  anecdotes,  but  Mr.  Hall 
refused  and  said,  "poor  folks  have  to  go  to  bed  early  and  get  up  with 
the  sun." 

The  clock  struck  the  hour  of  nine,  and  my  host  commanded  the 
boys  to  retire,  while  Sis  informed  us  that  breakfast  would  be  served 
at  five  o'clock  next  morning.  My  companion  glanced  at  me  in  dismay, 
but  I  advised  her  to  look  upon  all  the  vicissitudes  of  life  with  calmness, 
and  begged  her  to  believe  that  all  things  work  together  for  good. 


CHAPTER  V. 

MORE    ANECDOTES 

AT  HALF  past  four  the  family  began  to  stir  about  and  at  five 
o'clock  we  were  told  that  "breakfast  was  ready  and  on  the  table.*' 
Our  food  was  a  repetition  of  the  day  before. 
Mr.  HalFs  absence  was  commented  upon,  and  before  I  had  ceased 
speaking  a  voice  saluted  us.  Looking  about  I  discovered  an  old  man's 
head  just  emerging  from  under  the  coverlid.  In  response  to  our  good 
morning  and  are  you  not  feeling  well,  Mr.  Hall  said,  "Wall,  no,  not  right 
smart,"  and  "little  Joe"  offered  the  information  that  "Paw  allers  drank 
his  coffee  in  bed  and  didn't  get  up  with  the  chickens."  I  did  not  appre- 
ciate the  force  of  the  remark  until  a  little  later. 

THE    DOOR-YARD    FAMILY 

From  this  time  on  and  during  the  entire  visit  we  had  company,  and 

plenty  of  it,  too ;  always  at  meal  time.    Although  unbidden,  our  guests 

were  not  abashed,  and  when  we  unceremoniously  (for  we  all  joined  in) 

tried  to  drive  them  out,  there  seemed  to  be  no  hard  feeling,  for  our 

visitors  continued  to  make  strenuous  attempts  to  enter.     I  am  now 

speaking  of  the  door-yard  family;   geese,  ducks  and  chickens  walked 

boldly  in,  and  the  c(i>^ilintious  efforts  of  the  family  to  keep  them  out 

suggested  the  thought  that  some  one  with  a  gigantic  brain  might  have 

utilized  oar  proceedings,  and  perpetual  motion  would  have  been  a 

verified  fact. 

PAYING    THE    INTEREST 

The  delightfully  cool  morning  enticed  us  out  of  doors  and  we  went 
out  into  the  fresh  sweet  air.  All  nature  was  astir,  and  we  delighted 
in  the  early  rising;  a  lovely  sight  greeted  our  vision.  My  eyes  roamed 
over  the  beautiful  landscape,  and  in  fancy  I  saw  a  young  man  crossing 

42 


MORE  ANECDOTES.  43 

the  fields.    His  head  was  bowed,  his  gait  was  awkward,  and  he  did  not 
pause,  but  seemed  bent  upon  a  purpose  which  brooked  no  delay. 

My  dreaming  was  interrupted  by  Mr.  Hall,  who  came  up  beside  me. 
I  volunteered  a  question,  "I  suppose  Mr.  Lincoln  has  stood  many  times 
just  where  I  am  now  standing?"  "Why,  bless  ye,  of  course  he  has," 
said  Mr.  Hall.  "He  has  roamed  all  over  these  fields.  He  allers  walked 
right  across  here  when  he  went  to  pay  the  interest  for  Grandpap  Lin- 
coln, who  had  borrowed  from  the  school  funds,  and  Uncle  Abe  use  to 
come  down  every  six  months  and  pay  off  the  interest.  A  heap  of  times 
he  would  walk  from  the  cabin  up  to  the  head  of  Indian  Creek,  about 
six  miles  away,  and  see  that  the  interest  wus  paid.  He  done  that  until 
he  hed  money  enough  to  pay  the  hull  debt,  and  kept  up  the  interest,  tu." 

THE  FAMOUS  HOUSE  AT  FARMINGTON 

We  walked  about  the  yard  for  some  time,  I  questioning  and  Mr. 
Hall  answering,  until  at  last  my  host,  pointing  to  a  little  cluster  of 
houses  about  half  a  mile  down  the  road,  said,  "That's  Farmington,"  and 
singling  out  a  particular  house,  gave  me  the  interesting  information 
that  Mr.  Lincoln  had  made  a  speech  there  "after  he  got  to  be  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States." 

I  begged  him  to  tell  me  all  about  the  occasion,  but  to  my  astonish- 
ment he  declined.  After  a  few  moments  of  silent  thought  he  brushed 
his  hand  across  his  cheek  and  said,  "Pll  take  ye  down  there  some  time 
and  then  I'll  tell  ye  what  Uncle  Abe  said  to  the  wimmin  folks,  but  not 

now,  not  now." 

LIKE    THOMAS    LINCOLN 

The  sun  had  steadily  climbed  into  the  blue  sky,  not  a  cloud 
obscured  its  face,  its  hot  and  fervid  rays  were  scorching  the 
already  dry  and  parched  earth.  Uncle  John  Hall,  as  I  was  already 
learning  to  call  him,  suggested  that  we  had  better  get  "inter  the  shade^' 
saying,  "Let's  go  into  the  house  and  rest  a  bit.  I  reckon  the  boys  can 
do  the  chores  and  tend  to  the  crops."  In  this  he  was  like  Thomas 
Lincoln!  His  manner  attracted  my  attention  and  a  searching  look  at 
the  old  man  revealed  a  startling  similarity  to  that  illustrious  relative. 
He  did  indeed  resemble  Abraham  Lincoln. 


44  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

THE    MIXED-UP    FAMILY 

Since  becoming  an  inmate  of  Mr.  HalPs  family  I  had  learned  that 
he  was  a  grandson  of  Abraham  Lincoln's  step-mother,  but  knew  that  con- 
nection could  not  make  him  a  relative  of  the  dead  President.  When  I 
recalled  my  first  greeting  I  smiled  to  think  how  my  imagination  had 
clothed  him  with  a  resemblance  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  who  was  simply  a 
connection.  After  having  questioned  him  regarding  this  matter,  Mr. 
Hall  said,  "So  I  am  related  to  Uncle  Abe,  tu.  My  father  wus  his  first 
cousin,  but  just  how  it  came  about  'twould  take  a  lawyer  to  tell,  for 
our  family  is  so  mixed  up,"  and  then  he  talked  of  his  father^s  and  moth- 
er's life  with  the  Lincolns,  and  how  he  "allers"  lived  with  Grandmarm 
Lincoln,  until  interrupted  by  the  approach  of  unexpected  visitors. 

UNEXPECTED    VISITORS 

A  gentleman  and  two  young  women  entered  the  cottage  and  were 
introduced  to  me,  by  Mr.  Hall,  as  Dr.  Williams  and  his  daughters,  Mary 
and  Ellen. 

The  father  was  the  physician  who  lived  in  the  little  town  of  Farm- 
ington  just  north  of  Mr.  HalPs  residence,  and  learning  the  cause  of  my 
visit,  came  to  tell  me  that  he  and  his  family  occupied  the  "very  house 
in  which  Mr.  Lincoln  dined  on  that  eventful  day  in  December,  1860,  after 
his  election  to  the  Presidency — and  where  he  addressed  the  neighbors 
and  all  the  people  round  about." 

The  doctor  and  his  daughters  extended  a  cordial  invitation  "to 
come  and  see  for  yourself,"  an  invitation  that  was  quickly  accepted,  and 
thus  the  promised  story  was  not  to  be  related  until  we  both  went  down 
to  the  now  historical  house  at  Farmington. 

BILL    WATKINS 

As  they  departed.  Sis  called  to  her  father  from  the  adjoining  room, 
saying,  "hurry  up,  for  Bill  Watkins  wants  you  to  come  to  the  back  door." 
The  old  man  did  not  offer  to  move,  and  said  in  an  undertone,  "Bill's  sweet 
on  the  gal  and  won't  be  disappointed  if  I  don't  put  in  a  show." 

The  temperature  was  steadily  increasing  and  the  flies  were  about 


Andirons  bought  in  Kentucky  and  brought  by  Thomas  Lincoln  and  family  to  Indiana 
and  later  to  Illinois,  where  they  were  used   in  the  old  log  cabin. 


ABRAHAM    LINCOLN'S    BABYHOOD. 


MORE  ANECDOTES.  45 

the  room  in  perfect  swarms.  From  the  kitchen  came  a  strong  and 
odorous  scent  suggestive  of  burning  grease.  Mr.  Hall  had  fallen  asleep 
in  his  chair,  which  was  tilted  back  against  the  rough  and  unpapered 
wall.  A  broken  looking-glass  hung  between  the  windows,  and  a  yellow 
cur  lay  on  the  weather-beaten  doorstep. 

DAD,    WAKE    UP 

Sis  tip-toed  into  the  room,  her  sleeves  rolled  up  to  the  elbows,  her 
dress  unfastened  at  the  neck  and  her  cheeks  aflame.  She  paused  be- 
fore the  plain,  old-fashioned  deal  table  that  stood  underneath  the  look- 
ing glass  and  quietly  pulled  out  a  shallow  drawer.  A  small  package 
was  taken  out  and  laid  upon  the  stand,  then  the  girl  pulled  down  her 
ileeves,  smoothed  her  hair  with  her  hands  and  pinned  together  the 
band  at  the  neck  of  her  dress.  Unfastening  the  bundle,  she  tied  a 
flaming  red  ribbon  about  her  throat.  Turning  around  she  punched 
her  father  and  called  out  in  a  loud  voice,  "Dad,  wake  up."  Then,  with  a 
smile  and  with  a  toss  of  her  head  said,  "Bill's  going  to  stay  for  dinner.*' 

We  filed  out  into  the  hot  room,  where  we  found  Mr.  Watkins  looking 
as  ebeepish  and  guilty  as  Sis  looked  red  and  conscious. 

The  meal  was  begun  in  silence,  only  the  rattle  of  dishes  and  the  buzz 
of  insects  disturbed  the  stillness.  It  seemed  almost  impossible  that  such 
uncomfortable  conditions,  such  a  total  lack  of  necessities  could  exist 
at  the  present  time,  and  we  could  hardly  imagine  a  much  more  wretched 
and  cheerless  situation;  yet  Mr.  Lincoln's  childhood  and  manhood  were 
passed  amid  scenes  of  much  greater  poverty  and  squalor. 

His  vicissitudes  and  uncomfortable  surroundings  were  those  of  an 
earlier  and  ruder  time,  in  which  there  seemed  no  chance  of  improve- 
ment. A  time  when  a  bare  living  was  hard  to  get,  when  the  comforts 
of  home  and  the  advantages  of  education  were  almost  undreamed  of. 

It  was  these  very  hardships  and  sacrifices  that  laid  the  foundation 
of  his  greatness.  The  lack  of  pleasure,  the  dearth  of  books,  the 
absence  of  a  comfortable  home,  made  him  struggle  to  secure 
Tvhat  the  pampered  and  wealthy  boy  often  throws  away,  and 
achieve  what  the  idle  and  worthless  young  man  can  never  accomplish. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

NO   BARRIERS  TO  GREATNESS 

BACK  to  the  old  Kentucky  home  let  us  go  and  find  out  still  more 
about  little  Abe  and  his  parents. 

We  must  never  lose  sight  of  the  fact  that  though  Thomas 
Lincoln  was  shiftless  and  idle  and  lazy  and  poor,  and  his  wife  hard- 
working and  no  doubt  a  very  plain  and  unpromising  woman,  yet  they 
both  had  taught  their  little  children  the  moral  code;  to  tell  the  truth, 
to  be  honest,  faithful  and  fearless  in  right  doing. 

LITTLE    ABE    WOULD    NOT    TELL    A    LIE 

It  was  told  to  me  bv  Mr.  Hall  that  Grandmam  Lincoln  had  related 

to  him  a  story  that  some  of  the  family  had  told  her  about  Mr.  Lincoln 

when  he  was  a  very  young  boy.    "It  seems  that,"  as  Mr.  Hall  tells  it, 

"onct  grandfather  wus  tellin'  a  story  about  somethin'  that  happened 

one  day,  when  little  Abe  spoke  up  and  said,  Taw,  that  wus  not  jest 

the  way  it  wus,'  and  then  his  father  turned  around  and  slapped  him. 

It  made  the  water  come  out  of  his  eyes  in  tears  like,  and  he  went  out 

and  did  not  come  back  for  some  time;  then  some  one  said,  ^Where  is 

Abe  gone?'  and  they  all  looked  out  and  seed  him  a  peakin'  through 

the  fence  and  whistling.     They  all  expected  to  find  him  cryin'  and 

sniveling,  but  no  sir,  you  see  he  had  good  grit  even  when  he  was  a  little 

Bhaver." 

THE    LIFE    OF    A    ROVER 

The  every  day  life  of  the  Lincoln  family  was  homely,  uneventful 
and  exceedingly  monotonous.  Thomas  Lincoln  was  always  working 
for  others,  neglecting  his  family  and  his  own  interests.  The  push  and 
energy  of  his  forefathers  seemed  to  have  deserted  him  and  he  never 
engaged  in  any  enterprise  that  showed  self-reliance  or  venture,  beyond 
the  idea  of  simply  starting  out  and  leading  the  life  of  a  rover — hunting 
and  fishing,  and  so  the  days  went  on. 

46 


NO  BARRIERS  TO  GREATNESS,  47 

SEEKING    HIS    FORTUNE 

At  last,  however,  he  ventured,  and,  securing  a  small  boat  load  of 
produce,  undertook  to  try  his  hand  at  taking  the  raft  down  the  creek 
to  the  Ohio  River,  where  he  hoped  to  dispose  of  his  cargo.  He  loaded 
up  the  small,  rude  raft,  fastened  it  to  the  shore  and  decided  to  wait 
for  another  day  before  starting  out  on  his  unknown  journey.  He 
arose  early  the  next  morning  and  went  down  to  the  creek.  Did  his 
eyes  deceive  him?  There  was  nothing  to  be  seen.  His  craft  and  its 
load  had  disappeared.  He  did  not  suspect  any  of  his  friends  or  neigh- 
bors, for  in  those  days  our  pioneer  fathers  did  not  rob  one  another — 
they  assisted  and  befriended  each  other.  Finally  his  wife  suggested 
that  "maybe  the  raft  had  sunk,"  and  after  a  thorough  search,  there 
the  old  scow  was  discovered  at  the  bottom  of  the  roaring  creek,  a  total 
wreck  and  its  load  ruined.  Thomas  Lincoln  did  not  repine,  but  simply 
said,  "Luck  is  agin  me." 

After  a  year  or  more,  in  some  unaccountable  way  the  spirit  of  emu- 
lation again  came  over  him,  and  he  either  forgot  all  about  his  lost  vessel 
and  its  contents  or  else  he  concluded  to  reap  the  reward  of  experience. 
At  any  rate  he  was  determined  to  follow  the  example  of  one  of  his 
relatives  who  had  just  returned  from  New  Orleans  with  a  "fortune." 

A    PAIR    OF    SHARPERS 

Mr.  John  Hall  told  me  the  following  incident  of  Thomas  Lincoln's 
life,  which  he  said  Abraham  Lincoln  had  related  to  him  at  a  time 
when  he  was  on  a  visit  at  his  old  home  and  after  he  became  a  member 
of  Congress.  Mr.  Lincoln,  in  substance,  said:  "Father  often  told  me 
of  the  trick  that  was  played  upon  him  by  a  ^pair  of  sharpers.'  It  was 
the  year  before  we  moved  from  Kentucky  to  Indiana  that  father  con- 
cluded to  take  a  load  of  pork  down  to  New  Orleans.  He  had  a  consid- 
erable amount  of  his  own,  and  he  bargained  with  the  relatives  and 
neighbors  for  their  pork,  so  that  altogether  he  had  quite  a  load.  He 
took  the  pork  to  the  Ohio  River  on  a  clumsily  constructed  flat  boat  of 
his  own  make.  Almost  as  soon  as  he  pushed  out  into  the  river  a  couple 
(  f  sleek  fellows  bargained  with  him  for  his  cargo,  and  promised  to  meet 


48  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

him  in  New  Orleans  where  they  arranged  to  pay  him  the  price 
agreed  upon.  He  eagerly  accepted  the  offer,  transferred  the  cargo 
to  the  strangers  and  drifted  down  the  river,  his  head  filled  with 
visions  of  wealth  and  delight.  He  thought  that  he  was  going 
to  accomplish  what  he  had  set  out  to  do  without  labor  or  incon- 
venience. Father  waited  about  New  Orleans  for  several  days,  but  failed 
to  meet  his  whilom  friends.  At  last  it  dawned  upon  him  that  he  had 
been  sold,  and  all  that  he  could  do  was  to  come  back  home  and  face  the 
music.  Now  came  the  most  disastrous  turn  in  my  father's  life,  for  he 
was  obliged  to  sell  his  place  to  pay  for  the  pork  that  he  had  secured 
from  the  relatives  and  neighbors.  This  unfortunate  affair  was  the 
cause  of  our  removal  to  Indiana,  where  we  all  suffered  such  extreme 
hardships  and  privations." 

THE    HAND    OF    PROVIDENCE 

Mr.  Hall  and  I  talked  for  some  time  of  the  misfortune  and  poverty 
that  came  to  the  family,  and  I  gathered  from  the  conversation  that 
Thomas  Lincoln  would  never  acknowledge  that  his  misfortune  and  ill- 
luck  wa«  the  natural  result  of  his  own  indolence  and  thriftlessness; 
but  would  always  excuse  himself  by  saying:  "'Twas  the  hand  o'  Prov- 
idence laid  upon  me,"  and  then  he  would  quote  from  the  Bible,  "Whom 
the  Lord  loveth  he  chasteneth."  "Many  a  time  grandpap  has  said  to 
me,  *Why,  everything  that  I  ever  teched  either  died,  got  killed  or  was 
lost,'  and  then  he  would  tell  of   poor   luck   and   misfortune   by   the 

bushel. 

THE    UNTIWIELY    DEATH    OF    A    HORSE 

"He  also  onct  told  me  that  when  he  lived  in  Indiana  they  got  so 
poor  that  they  hadn't  anything  to  feed  their  horses  with,  and  grandpap 
turned  them  out  to  browse,  but  when  he  went  to  look  for  'em,  there 
wus  one  hangin'  up  in  a  tree  stun  dead.  Somehow  in  kickin'  flies  his 
hind  foot  had  got  caught  in  the  branches  and  there  it  hung  with  not 
a  atom  of  life  in  it."  I  relate  this  story  as  it  was  told  to  me,  but  must 
let  my  little  readers  judge  of  its  truthfulness. 

Pausing  and  looking  up  at  me,  Mr.  Hall  questioned  in  a 
dreamy  and   mysterious  manner,  "Do  you  believe  that  some  folks 


NO  BARRIERS  TO  GREATNESS. 


49 


is  born  to  ill  fortune,  because  their  father's  before  'em  did  some- 
thing they  hadn't  ought  to?"  He  did  not  wait  for  my  reply,  but  crossing 
his  long  legs  and  tipping  his  chair  back  against  the  wall,  he  looked  me 
straight  in  the  face,  and  seemed  to  be  answering  his  own  question. 
"Uncle  Abe  once  said  to  me,  ^John,  I  am  almost  inclined  to  believe 
that  the  curse  of  God  rests  upon  my  family.' " 

NOTHING    BUT    POVERTY 

The  many  sad  and  unpleasant  tales  that  had  been  related 
to  me  by  Uncle  John  Hall  divested  life  of  its  pleasures,  and  I 
longed  to  discover  some  funny  incident  or  romantic  story  con- 
cerning the  Lincoln  family.  When  I  suggested  to  my  host  that  he 
had  overlooked  the  humorous  side  of  the  family  history,  he  shook 
his  head  and  said,  "Thare  wus  nothing  but  poverty  and  work 
and  misfortune  for  our  family.  Don't  you  remember  what  Uncle  Abe 
said  to  a  writing  man  that  came  to  Springfield  to  make  a  book  of  Uncle 
Abe  and  his  family  after  he  was  elected  the  President?"  Having  for- 
gotten, I  asked  to  have  my  memory  refreshed.  Mr.  Hall  reached  for 
the  Life  and  Public  Services  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  again  I  read 
the  quotation,  from  Gray's  Elegy,  "The  short  and  simple  annals  of  the 
poor,"  that  Mr.  Lincoln  gave  to  the  historian. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  NEW  HOME-VISIONS  OF  PROSPERITY 

AVERY  unfortunate  and  disastrous  circumstance  came  into 
Thomas  Lincoln's  life  when  Abraham  Lincoln  was  about  nine 
years  old.  The  farm  was  sold  and  the  family  were  without  a 
roof  of  their  own.  Thomas  Lincoln  concluded  that  he  would  leave 
Kentucky  altogether  and  try  to  find  some  place  where  he  could  get 
a  better  living.  The  spirit  of  unrest  and  adventure  was  now  upon  him. 
He  set  to  work  with  little  Abe^s  help  and  built  a  raft,  which  he  intended 
to  float  down  the  Rolling  Fork  to  the  Ohio  River  and  then  land  some- 
where, for  he  had  no  definite  idea  concerning  the   terminus    of    his 

journey. 

THE    SHSPWRECK 

He  had  heard  marvelous  stories  of  the  wealth  that  could  be  amassed 
and  of  the  rich  and  fertile  land  that  could  be  secured  if  one  could  only 
get  into  the  State  of  "Indiany."  He  had  sold  his  Kentucky  farm,  con- 
sisting of  two  hundred  acres  and  his  little  log  cabin  for  twenty  dollars 
in  money  and  twenty  barrels  of  whisky.  Whisky  in  those  days  was  a 
medium  of  exchange  for  food,  clothing,  tools,  cattle,  lands  and  houses, 
and  was  worth  about  twenty- five  dollars  a  barrel.  It  will  not  take  very 
long  for  either  a  school  girl  or  boy  to  figure  out  how  much  Thomas  Lin- 
coln received  for  his  property.  He  paid  his  debts,  arranged  to  leave  his 
home  and  started  out  to  seek  his  fortune.  All  of  the  furniture  except 
just  what  the  family  could  get  along  with  was  put  on  to  the  raft,  to- 
gether with  what  he  had  left  of  the  w^hisky,  after  paying  up  the  "hog 
debt,"  and  his  kit  of  carpenter's  tools.  The  boat  was  pushed  off  and 
another  possible  Columbus  set  out  to  discover  and  possess  an  unknown 
country.  But  this  later  day  boatman  was  not  so  well  equipped  as  the 
earlier  voyager  was.  His  craft  was  unseaworthy  and  clumsy,  and  no 
seamen  accompanied  him.    He  was  obliged  to  command  and  obey,  but 

50 


THE  NEW  HOME-VISIONS  OF  PROSPERITY.  51 

all  went  well  until  he  reached  the  Ohio  River.  Here  his  raft  became 
unmanageable  and  Thomas  Lincoln,  whisky,  furniture  and  tools  were 
dumped  into  the  river. 

How  he  ever  managed  to  rescue  any  of  his  cargo  was  a  mystery,  but 
with  the  aid  of  some  men  who  were  living  along  the  shore  he  succeeded 
in  fishing  out  two  barrels  of  whisky,  his  kit  of  carpenter^s  tools  and 
part  of  his  furniture.  These  he  loaded  on  to  an  ox  cart  and  took  them 
back  into  the  State  of  Indiana,  about  thirteen  miles  north  of  the  Ohio 
River.  Here  he  found  a  settler's  cabin,  where  he  left  his  load  of  goods 
until  he  should  return  and  claim  them. 

THE    FATHER^S    RETURN 

During  the  absence  of  the  father,  the  boy  Abe  managed  to  get 
enough  to  eat  for  himself,  his  mother  and  sister  by  snaring  birds,  catch- 
ing fish  and  picking  berries.  At  last,  after  weeks  of  weary  waiting,  and 
almost  believing  that  they  would  never  again  see  their  father  and  hus- 
band, the  family  were  surprised  one  day  when  Thomas  Lincoln  walked 
into  the  cabin  and  began  to  tell  them  wonderful  stories  of  the  prom- 
ised land. 

THE     PROMISED    LAND 

His  raft  wa:;  aestroyed  and  he  had  no  money,  so  there  was  no  other 
way  for  himself  and  family  to  reach  the  promised  land  other  than 
"foot  it,"  as  Thomas  Lincoln  expressed  it.  It  did  not  take  the  Lincolns 
many  hours  to  pack  their  household  effects;  a  few  pots,  pans,  kettles, 
and  bed  clothing  comprised  the  entire  stock.  A  span  of  horses  was 
borrowed  from  one  of  the  neighbors,  and  the  bedding  and  cooking  uten- 
sils were  packed  upon  the  backs  of  the  horses.  The  poor  and  desolate 
family  started  out  through  an  unknown  forest  for  their  new  home 
ninety  miles  away.  Through  thicket  and  underbrush,  fording  creeks, 
living  like  gypsies,  and  plodding  along  like  tramps,  they  made  slow 
headway. 

If  any  of  the  family  enjoyed  this  journey  through  the  primeval 
forest  it  was  the  children,  of  course,  and  no  doubt  Little  Abe  made  the 
best  of  the  situation.    We  can  easily  imagine  him  gathering  fagots, 


52  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

and  building  a  fire  for  his  mother,  while  she  broiled  the  prairie  chicken 
and  his  sister  picked  the  sweet  wild  berries. 

THE    ESCAPE 

With  all  the  unfortunate  circumstances  that  now  surrounded  them 
it  seemed  as  if  the  very  fates  conspired  to  add  to  their  unhappiness  and 
disappointment.  The  following  story,  told  by  Mr.  Hall,  will  verify  the 
preceding  statement: 

"Though  Grandpap  Lincoln  wus  oncommon  oneasy  and  allers  mov- 
ing about,  he  tried  to  keep  his  family  in  hog  meat,  and  when  he  moved 
from  Kantucky  to  Indiany  he  took  along  quite  a  drove  of  hogs.  Uncle 
Abe  wus  a  little  shaver  then,  and  be  wus  told  to  keep  the  hogs  into 
line,  but  that  wus  rather  a  hard  thing  to  do,  fur  there  was  no  path 
to  foller  and  every  now  and  then  some  wildcat  or  painter  would  ^tackle 
'em.'  One  night  wild  animals  and  other  varmints  scared  'em  so  terribly 
that  they  all  run  away,  and  when  grandpap  and  the  rest  of  the  family 
woke  up  in  the  morning  the  hogs  had  all  gone,  the  Lord  only  knowed 
where.  That  wus  an  awful  disappointment,  for  grandpap  thought 
they  had  meat  nuff  fer  the  whole  winter."  Had  there  not  been  a  pitiful 
side  to  the  story  as  well  as  a  humorous  one  I  should  have  laughed  im- 
moderately. 

THE    RETURN 

Never  for  a  moment  anticipating  that  their  drove  of  hogs  were  ever 
heard  from  again,  and  in  a  joking  rather  than  a  serious  manner,  I  asked 
Mr.  Hall  if  the  journey  of  the  hog  family  ever  came  to  light?  He  guf- 
fawed and  said,  "You  bet!  After  grandpap  and  the  rest  of  the  family 
hed  got  settled  in  Indiany,  grandpap  hed  a  letter  from  an  old  neighbor 
in  Kantucky  telling  him  that  his  hogs  were  all  back  at  the  old  place, 
and  shore  nuff,  they  hed  swum  the  Ohio  River  and  gone  back  to  Kan- 
tucky. Well,  grandpap,  after  a  little  while,  put  out  for  Kantucky  and 
druv  the  hull  pack  back  to  Indiany." 

NANCY    LINCOLN^S    DISAPPOINTIViENT 

The  journey  had  been  long  and  wearisome  and  oftentimes  danger- 
ous, yet  the  pilgrims  finally  reached  the  settler's  cabin  where  Thomas 
Lincoln  had  stored  his  load  of  shipwrecked  goods. 


THE  NEW  HOME-VISIONS  OF  PROSPERITY,  53 

And  now  we  can  imagine  the  disappointment  of  the  wife  and  chil- 
dren when  they  found  that  the  land  which  Thomas  Lincoln  had  de- 
scribed in  such  glowing  words  was  not  yet  discovered. 

The  family  started  out  again  the  next  morning,  and  cutting  their 
way  through  tangled  underbrush,  often  so  dense  and  knotty  that  it 
seemed  almost  impossible  to  make  a  path,  they  became  too  weary  to 
proceed  further,  and  determined  to  take  up  a  squatter^s  claim  almost 
anywhere.  The  family  had  now  tramped  eight  miles  beyond  the  set- 
tler^s  home,  when  the  tired  and  footsore  father,  mother  and  young  chil- 
dren took  possession  of  an  opening  located  in  Spencer  County,  Indiana, 
about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  present  town  of  Gentryville. 

THE    SQUATTER^S    CLAIM 

Though  a  pleasant  place  on  a  grassy  knoll,  and  near  a  limpid  stream 
of  water,  yet  the  weary  family  did  not  enjoy  the  rural  scene  nor  antici- 
pate future  possibilities.  The  father  consoled  his  little  family  by  telling 
them  that  the  land  was  rich,  the  forest  was  full  of  game,  the  river 
alive  with  fish,  the  ground  was  covered  with  flowers,  the  vines  were 
loaded  with  wild  and  delicious  berries  and  all  they  needed  to  do  now 
was  to  settle  down  and  make  themselves  "tu  hum."  But  alas!  where 
was  the  home?    No  roof  to  shelter  them  from  the  noonday  sun  or  the 

pitiless  rain. 

THE    NEW    HOME 

The  first  thing  to  do  was  to  build  a  house,  and  now  the  father  and 
the  nine-year-old  boy  set  to  work  to  build  a  cabin.  Thomas  Lincoln  was 
a  carpenter,  but  he  was  too  indolent  to  construct  a  comfortable  log 
house,  and  he  did  not  even  build  a  decent  habitation.  He  thought  a 
half-faced  cabin  would  do  until  he  found  time  to  build  a  more  com- 
fortable house.  The  family  all  set  to  work  to  "put  up"  a  covering  that 
ihould  shield  them  from  the  rain  and  coming  winter  storms.  There 
were  four  corner  posts,  the  two  rear  ones  being  higher  than  the  front 
ones,  and  upon  their  forked  tops  four  smaller  posts  were  placed.  These 
formed  the  edges  of  the  roof,  while  between  was  put  a  row  of  good- 
sized  poles,  and  to  these  were  fastened  thin  slabs  that  Thomas  Lincoln 
made  with  a  draw  knife.    Around  the  three  sides  were  set  up  smaller 


54  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

poles,  close  together,  while  the  cracks  were  chinked  with  chips  and 
clay.  The  front  of  the  cabin  was  protected  by  deer  skins,  which  kept 
out  the  rain  but  not  the  cold,  damp  air.  This  was  the  habitation  that 
Abraham  Lincoln  lived  in  for  more  than  a  year. 

THE    HOIYIE-SYIADE    SUIT 

The  future  President  of  the  United  States  was  only  ten  years  old 
now,  but  a  strong  and  unusually  large  boy  of  his  age.  He  was  a  long- 
legged,  uncouth  little  fellow.  His  hair  was  black  and  thick  and  un- 
kempt, his  face  was  thin  and  emaciated  and  his  skin  tanned  and  yellow 
from  his  out-door  life  and  lack  of  care.  But  his  muscles  were  tough 
and  hard.  He  could  stand  hardships  and  privations,  and  neces^ty 
had  taught  him  much  ingenuity.  His  shirts  were  home-spun  and  were 
woven  by  his  mother,  and  colored  with  a  dye  which  she  made  from 
roots  and  barks.  He  had  deer-skin  breeches  and  a  blouse  made  from 
the  same  material.  When  he  did  not  go  barefoot  he  wore  moccasins, 
also  made  by  his  mother.  His  cap  was  a  queer  looking  affair  and  was 
fashioned  from  a  coon  skin  with  the  tail  of  the  animal  hanging  down 
the  back  of  his  neck.  This  strange  head  covering  did  not  add  to  his 
general  appearance. 

A    BED    OF    LEAVES 

The  monotony  of  the  boy's  daily  life,  and  lack  of  comforts,  would 
be  unendurable  to  the  boys  of  to-day,  who  have  comfortable  homes, 
amusements,  recreation,  and  all  the  educational  benefits  of  the  present 
public  school  system.  But  such  was  pioneer  life  ninety  years  ago — 
the  men  and  women  were  rough,  careless,  uncultivated  and  uncouth, 
and  the  children  were  rude,  untidy  and  ignorant. 

The  life  that  the  Lincoln  family  lived  in  the  shanty  on  Little  Pigeon 
Creek  was  indeed  rough,  and  not  only  devoid  of  comfort  and  cleanliness, 
but  even  lacked  the  common  necessities  of  existence,  while  the  decencies 
of  life  were  entirely  ignored.  There  was  no  floor,  and  so  the  family 
lived,  walked  and  slept  on  the  bare  ground.  Their  beds  were  nothing 
but  heaps  of  dried  leaves,  which  were  gathered  by  the  mother  and 
her  little  children — and  only  now  and  then  changed  for  fresh  ones. 


THE  NEW  HOME-VISIONS  OF  PROSPERITY.  55 

YOUNG    ABE^S    ASPIRATIONS 

The  life  that  young  Abe  and  his  sister  led  was  lonely  and  homely 
enough  in  that  wilderness.  Yet  this  very  loneliness  and  utter  lack 
of  recreation  and  amusement  forced  the  boy  to  think.  He  was  always 
a  thoughtful  little  man,  and  here  was  the  opportunity  to  do  a  great 
deal  of  thinking.  He  would  go  out  into  the  forest  that  surrounded 
his  home  and  lie  on  his  back,  look  up  into  the  sky  and — just  think. 
His  mother  had  read  to  him  everything  that  she  could  get  hold  of  and 
had  told  him  the  oft-repeated  tales  of  great  people  that  she  in  her  youth 
had  read  of  and  heard  of. 

Young  Abe  had  some  knowledge  that  there  was  an  outside  world, 
and  that  there  were  great  men,  who  had  performed  brave  deeds,  val- 
iant soldiers  v/ho  had  led  their  men  to  victory;  that  there  were  also 
beautiful  and  accomplished  women  and  lovely  homes  filled  with  com- 
forts, and  luxuries,  and  little  children  w^ho  laughed  and  sung  the  live- 
long day,  happy  and  free  as  the  birds  of  the  air. 

ABE^S    PROPHECY 

Notwithstanding  his  rude  life  and  lack  of  education  and  accomplish- 
ments, young  Abe  did  not  have  a  low  estimate  of  himself,  for  we  are 
told  by  Mr.  Lincoln's  early  biographers  that  there  were  many  indica- 
tions, even  at  an  early  age,  that  he  possessed  self-respect,  in  a  remark- 
able degree,  and  w^as  not  backward  in  making  it  manifest. 

It  is  also  related  by  these  same  biographers  that  the  boy  prophesied 
the  greatness  of  the  man;  and  that  this  prophecy  was  much  commented 
upon  by  the  then  unknown  to  the  world  relatives  as  well  as  afterwards 
by  the  curious  people  of  the  country. 

THE     FAIRY    TALE 

When  Thomas  Lincoln  returned  to  Kentucky  for  his  run-away  hogs 
he  took  with  him  a  bag  filled  with  fairy  tales.  The  bag  was  opened 
to  every  listener,  and  as  each  new  spectator-— relatives  or  old  neighbors 
— flocked  about  Mm,  the  tales  grew  in  length  and  strength,  and  his 
possessions  increased  and  his  future  wealth  was  already  secured.    He 


56  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

proved  to  be  so  eloquent  and  persuasive  that  about  a  year  after  he  had 
settled  in  Indiana  and  just  as  the  new  log  house  was  completed,  Abra- 
ham Lincoln's  Uncle  John  and  Aunt  Betsy  Sparrow,  with  his  boy  cousin, 
Dennis  Hanks,  came  up  from  Kentucky  to  also  try  their  luck  in  Indiana. 
Thomas  Lincoln  gave  to  the  emigrant  relatives,  who  were  as  poor  as 
himself,  the  old  "half-faced"  cabin,  and  the  Lincolns  had  near  neigh- 
bors. 

Though  the  times  were  just  as  hard,  the  days  just  as  dreary,  and  the 
every-day-life  just  as  common  and  homely,  yet  the  heretofore  isolated 
family  had  human  companionship;  the  companionship  of  their  own  kin, 
in  which  the  common  blood  filtered  through  their  veins  and  made  a 
comradeship  that  neither  separation  nor  death  could  destroy. 

The  old  friendships  were  revived,  the  old  scenes  rehearsed  and  the 
old  days  were  lived  over  again,  and  this  tender  communion  made  the 
poverty  and  squalor  more  bearable  and  banished  the  despair  of  deferred 
hope. 


CHAPTER  VIIK 

ABE^S   FIRST  GRIEF 

A  LITTLE  sunshine  now  crept  into  the  hearts  of  the  mother  and 
her  children — Mrs.  Lincoln  had  her  relatives  for  companions, 
and  Abe  and  his  sister  had  their  cousin  Dennis  for  a  playmate. 

The  new  building  was  not  a  very  great  improvement  on  the  old 
cabin,  but  it  was  more  like  a  house,  though  it  had  neither  window, 
door  nor  floor.  But  it  was  so  much  better  than  the  miserable  little 
shanty  in  which  they  had  merely  existed  since  they  came  to  Indiana 
that  young  Abe  and  his  sister  felt  quite  proud  of  their  new  home. 

The  boy  had  helped  his  father  build  the  log  cabin,  and  had  with  his 
own  hands  driven  some  pegs  into  the  wall,  and  up  this  ladder  of  pegs 
he  climbed  to  the  loft  where  he  slept.  His  bed  here,  as  in  the  now  aban- 
doned shanty,  was  simply  a  heap  of  leaves. 

Their  furniture  was  home-made.  Three  legged  stools,  and  a  bed- 
stead built  of  poles  driven  into  the  logs  at  the  back,  while  the  front 
was  supported  by  chunks  of  wood,  was  about  all  the  furniture  that 
the  family  possessed.  The  table  on  which  the  frugal  meals  were  placed 
was  simply  a  rough  board  put  upon  two  sections  sawed  from  logs. 

NECK    AND    NECK 

The  times  grew  harder  and  the  two  families  were  "neck  and  neck" 
in  the  race  with  grinding  poverty.  Their  crops  failed,  their  horses 
were  killed  and  their  cattle  were  stricken  with  a  fatal  distemper.  Be- 
fore the  winter  set  in  there  were  many  sad  days  for  both  families. 
A  terrible  sickness  came  upon  them.  It  was  called  the  "milk  fever,'* 
and  those  who  did  not  die  from  the  epidemic  lived  a  few  weeks  longer, 
suffering  with  and  dying  from  a  more  lingering  sickness  called,  by 
the  early  settlers,  "quick  consumption." 

57 


58  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

DEATH    OF    THE    SPARROW    FAMILY 

John  and  Betsy  Sparrow,  the  uncle  and  aunt  who  came  up  from 
Kentucky,  were  among  the  first  to  die  with  the  epidemic,  and  thus, 
Dennis  Hanks,  the  young  lad,  came  to  live  with  the  Lincolns,  Mrs. 
Lincoln  was  also  stricken  with  the  epidemic,  and  although  she  did  not 
die  with  the  so-called  milk  fever,  she  never  recovered  from  its  effects, 
but  became  the  victim  of  a  wasting  and  fatal  disease. 

The  nearest  doctor  was  quite  thirty-five  miles  away,  but  even  had 
there  been  a  physician  nearer  there  was  no  money  to  pay  him  or  to 
buy  medicines  with.  The  poor  sick  woman  had  no  nourishing  food,  nor 
comfortable  bed.  The  house  did  not  protect  her  from  the  cold  or  rain. 
Her  only  woman  companion  was  dead,  and  there  was  no  one  to  nurse 
her  save  the  children,  who  did  all  that  their  young  minds  and  hearts 
dictated — at  best  it  was  but  a  feeble  effort. 

DEATH    OF    ABRAHAM^S    MOTHER 

Abraham  was  nearly  beside  himself  with  grief  and  agony  as  he 
watched  by  his  dying  mother\s  bedside.  The  mother  realized  that  her 
death  was  near,  and  turning  to  her  forlorn  and  ragged  little  son,  whom 
she  had  loved  so  dearly,  bade  him  be  kind  to  his  sister  and  father. 
Her  dying  blessing  was  a  prayer — a  prayer  that  her  precious  son  should 
be  "an  honest  and  faithful  boy,  a  good  and  tender  man."  The  young 
lad  never  forgot  those  words,  but  through  all  the  years  of  his  life  he 
strove  to  carry  out  every  wish  and  desire  that  his  dying  mother  ex- 
pressed. During  the  period  of  his  public  services  as  President  of  the 
United  States,  he  was  often  heard  to  say  to  his  friends  and  associates, 
"All  that  I  am  I  owe  to  my  angel  mother." 

The  death  of  Mrs.  Lincoln  was  a  terrible  blow  to  her  children.  Their 
father  had  never  seemed  to  care  for  them  and  they  had  always  de- 
pended upon  their  sad-faced,  hard-working  mother  for  love  and  com- 
panionship, help  and  instruction.  She  had  always  loved  and  brooded 
her  children.  From  their  mother  they  had  never  heard  other  than 
loving  words  nor  received  anything  but  gentle  treatment.  Her  own 
education  was  so  limited  that  she  was  only  able  to  do  but  little  for 


ABE'S  FIRST   GRIEF.  59 

them  in  that  direction.  She  simply  had  taught  them  to  read,  for  the 
number  of  books  that  the  Lincoln  household  possessed  was  so  very, 
very  few  that  educational  progress  was  impossible. 

THE    BURIAL    OF    ABRAHAM^S    MOTHER 

The  poor  and  emaciated  body  of  Abraham  Lincoln's  mother  was 
buried  in  the  silent  forest.  Thomas  Lincoln  dug  the  grave  and  made 
for  his  wife  a  rough  coffin.  There  was  no  minister  to  offer  a  prayer 
and  no  friends  to  console  or  comfort  the  heart-broken  children.  Little 
Abe  spent  much  of  his  time  in  the  forest  beside  the  new-made  grave, 
crying  bitterly  and  begging  his  mother  to  come  back. 

The  Lincoln  family  was  more  wretched  than  ever.  The  meals  were 
cooked  by  little  Sarah,  and  what  other  housekeeping  was  done  the 
boys,  Abe  and  Dennis,  undertook  to  do.  It  is  an  easy  matter  to 
realize  how  boys  would  keep  house,  especially  when  there  were  no 
utensils  or  conveniences  to  do  with. 

It  was  during  this  very  sad  and  gloomy  period  that  Abraham  Lin- 
coln was  such  an  unhappy  boy.  He  was  nearly  starved,  poorly  clothed, 
and  wretchedly  housed.  His  father  was  so  utterly  shiftless  and  good 
for  nothing  that  the  boy  could  not  see  one  ray  of  hope.  He  could  not 
even  imagine  a  better  or  different  home-life,  for  he  had  seen  nothing 
but  poverty  and  squalor  all  of  his  days.  The  little  fellow  was  really  a 
pitiable  object,  because  in  addition  to  all  of  these  wretched  conditions, 
he  was  constantly  thinking  of  his  poor  dead  mother  and  lamenting 
the  fact  that  no  minister  had  held  a  service  or  preached  a  funeral  sermon 
over  his  mother's  grave. 

One  day  he  made  up  his  mind  that  he  would  write  a  letter  to  the 
old  Baptist  minister  back  in  Kentucky.  So  he  wrote  to  Parson  Elkins 
and  begged  him  to  come  and  hold  a  memorial  service  for  his  beloved 
mother,  The  kind  man  answered  the  boy's  letter  and  promised  to  visit 
the  Lincoln  home  sometime  during  the  coming  summer,  although  the 
trip  would  involve  a  journey  of  more  than  a  hundred  miles  on  horse- 
back. According  to  his  promise  the  good  man  came  to  the  little  settle- 
ment, and  soon  the  neighbors  carried  the  news  to  neighbors  and  indeed 
every  family  within  twenty  miles  came  to  attend  the  wonderful  funeral. 


60  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

HIS    MOTHER'S    SERMON 

It  was  a  beautiful  Babbath  day, 'and  the  friends  began  to  gather 
early  in  the  forenoon.  Some  came  in  carts  of  the  rudest  construction, 
drawn  by  oxen,  and  some  on  horseback,  two  and  three  on  a  horse,  while 
many  were  on  foot  A  motley  crowd  of  sturdy  yeomen  with  their  wives 
and  children  had  gathered  to  listen  to  the  preacher  who  had  come  all 
of  the  way  from  Kentucky  to  preach  a  funeral  sermon  "over  a  woman 
who  had  been  dead  almost  a  year." 

There  in  the  depth  of  the  forest  the  grave  had  been  dug  eight  months 
before  and  the  body  of  poor  Nancy  Hanks  Lincoln  had  been  lowered 
into  its  narrow  bed.  There  was  no  habitation  within  miles.  There 
was  no  sound  save  the  song  of  the  birds,  the  chirp  of  tiny  insects  and 
the  murmur  of  the  purling  stream. 

Mr.  Lincoln  often  said  in  after  years  when  speaking  of  his  mother's 
grave  "that  its  loneliness  was  pitiful  and  its  solitude  awful." 

The  sermon  was  an  eulogy  upon  the  character  of  Mrs.  Lincoln,  and 
it  has  been  said  by  Mr.  Lincoln's  biographers  that  it  was  a  most 
eloquent  discourse.  The  entire  company  knelt  about  the  grave  and 
joined  the  minister  in  his  final  prayer,  while  down  the  brawny  cheeks 
of  many  a  strong  and  rough  man  tears  were  silently  coursing. 

So  impressive  a  scene  could  not  be  forgotten  by  even  the  youngest 
ones  present.  To  the  grave  and  silent  and  impressionable  boy  the  scene 
was  never  erased — it  fairly  burned  into  his  plastic  brain  and  forever 
remained  a  vivid  and  living  picture. 

Abraham  had  accomplished  what  he  considered  a  duty  on  his  part, 
and  had  honored  his  mother^s  memory,  and  was  therefore  not  so 
wretched  and  grief  stricken  as  before. 

The  summer  months  brought  to  the  children  some  comfort.  They 
were  neither  freezing  nor  starving,  the  warm  days  gladdened  their  lore- 
ly  little  hearts  and  the  wild  fruits  fed  them.  The  children  had  had  no 
training  in  household  industries,  because  the  mother  had  had  no  con- 
veniences to  do  with.  From  their  father  they  had  not  received  an 
example  of  thrift  or  labor,  because  he  did  not  work.  From  his  father 
and  through  the  influence  and  association  that  surrounded  Abraham 


ABE   STRIVING  TO  GET   AN"   EDUCATIOU. 


THOMAS    LINCOLN'S    MONUMENT. 

Monument  erected  near  Farmington,  111.,  to  Thomas  Lincoln,  father 

of  Abraham  Lincoln. 


GRAVE    OF   NANCY    HANKS   LINCOLN. 

This  tombstone  was  erected  to  the  memory  of  Lincoln's  mother  by  the 
late  Hon.  P.  E.  Studebaker,  who  purchased  the  Lin- 
coln Farm   in   Spencer  County,   Ind. 


ABE'S  FIRST  GRIEF.  61 

Lincoln  he  had  inherited  a  distaste  for  work  and  cultivated  a  disinclina- 
tion to  labor.  Therefore  the  boy  spent  his  time  in  dreaming,  in  think- 
ing and  reading.  His  mother  had  given  him  all  that  she  possessed^ — 
three  books,  the  Bible,  Esop's  Fables,  and  Pilgrim's  Progress,  and  these 
he  read  and  re-read  until  he  almost  knew  them  by  heart.  Upon  these 
three  books  the  literary  tastes  of  Abraham  Lincoln  were  founded. 

The  grave  was  for  many  years  utterly  neglected  and  unmarked.  At 
last  it  received  recognition,  and  Mr.  P.  E.  Studebaker,  who  purchased 
the  Rock  Spring  farm  in  Si>encer  County,  Indiana,  enclosed  the  grave 
with  a  neat  iron  fence  and  placed  at  the  head  of  the  mound  a  white 
marble  stone,  on  which  is  inscribed  the  following:  "Nancy  Hanks 
Lincoln,  who  died  Oct.  5,  1818,  aged  35  years.  Erected  in  1879  by  a 
friend  of  her  martyred  son." 


CHAPTER  IX. 

ABE'S   NEW  MOTHER  AND   HIS   NEW   LIFE 

THE  summer  passed  away  in  a  sort  of  go-easy  fashion,  and  the 
housekeeping  was  more  uncomfortable  than  ever  before,  when 
Thomas  Lincoln  one  day  made  the  startling  announcement  to 
his  children  that  he  was  "going  down  to  Kantucky  on  a  visit."  The 
three  forlorn  and  lonely  little  people  were  nearly  stunned,  and  talking 
among  themselves  wondered  how  they  should  get  along  while  the  father 
was  away.  It  is  quite  easy  to  believe,  however,  that  they  were  no  more 
unhappy  and  no  more  uncomfortable  during  the  father's  absence  than 
they  had  been  before. 

Thomas  Lincoln  had  been  away  from  his  little  family  fully  three 
months,  and  the  children  were  no  doubt  beginning  to  think  that  their 
father  would  never  return,  when  one  day  in  December  the  children 
heard  a  loud  hurrah  from  the  edge  of  the  forest  and  upon  looking  out 
from  the  cabin  they  beheld  a  wondrous  sight.  Had  a  fairy  god-mother 
touched  the  world  with  her  wand  and  produced  the  wonderful  change? 
Seated  in  a  canvas-covered  wagon  and  driving  four  horses  sat  their 
father,  and  at  his  side  a  neat  and  tidy  woman.  On  a  seat  behind  them 
were  three  children,  who  peeped  out  and  called  a  lusty  welcome.  The 
horses  dashed  up  to  the  door  in  fine  style  and  the  travelers  alighted. 
The  children  in  the  cabin  hung  back  and  were  loath  to  greet  the  new- 
comers, but  when  the  pleasant-faced  woman  stepped  up  to  the  desolate 
and  unkempt  children  and,  putting  her  arms  about  the  young  girl 
and  the  ragged,  scrawny  boy,  said  to  them  in  a  kindly  tone,  "I 
have  come  to  take  your  mother's  place,"  they  knew  she  was  their  friend. 
Would  wonders  never  cease?  The  wagon  was  unloaded,  chairs, 
tables,  a  bureau  with  drawers,  crockery,  bedding,  knives  and  forks  were 
taken  out  and  carried  into  the  cabin. 

62 


lABE'S  NEW  MOTHER  AND  HIS  NEW  LIFE.  63 

THE    NEW    MOTHER 

And  now  we  should  stop  to  inquire  about  this  wonderful  company 
and  where  Thomas  Lincoln  found  the  woman  and  her  children.  He 
had  known  the  woman  before  his  marriage,  in  fact,  had  been  engaged  to 
her,  but  why  they  had  never  married  history  does  not  reveal.  She 
became  the  wife  of  Daniel  Johnston,  and  Thomas  Lincoln  the  husband 
of  Nancy  Hanks.  The  children — Elizabeth,  Matilda  and  John  D.  John- 
ston— soon  became  acquainted  with  the  young  members  of  the  Lincoln 
household. 

The  new  wife  was  like  the  new  broom  that,  we're  told,  "sweeps  clean.'^ 
She  took  the  reins  of  government  into  her  hands.  Glass  was  put  into 
the  window  frames  instead  of  the  old  rags  that  had  been  jammed  into 
the  openings.  The  old  rickety  frame  gave  way  to  a  door  with  hinges. 
A  floor  was  laid  and  some  mats  spread  upon  it.  Cupboards  were  fast- 
ened to  the  wall  and  the  dishes  were  put  within;  but  best  of  all,  a 
few  books  were  unpacked  and  put  upon  a  hanging  shelf  that  had  been 
fastened  to  the  wall.  These  Abe  straightway  seized  and  began  to  de- 
vour their  contents  with  a  hunger  that  w^as  really  pitiful.  And  now 
the  boy  was  supremely  happy.  As  soon  as  the  chores  were  done  he 
would  lie  upon  the  floor  in  front  of  the  flreplace  and  read  till  his  father 
would  command  him  to  go  to  bed. 

The  new  mother  took  an  especial  liking  to  the  miserable  and  forlorn 
little  fellow  from  the  first.  She  appreciated  his  gentle  nature  and 
realized  that  he  hungered  for  something  that  she  did  not  quite  under- 
stand. She  washed  and  cleaned  her  adopted  son  and  dressed  him  in  a 
suit  of  her  own  boy's,  though  she  had  to  piece  down  the  legs  of  the 
trousers  with  another  kind  of  cloth  and  of  a  different  color,  for  Abe 
was,  even  at  this  early  age,  uncommonly  tall. 

ABE    GOES    TO    SOHOOL 

The  thrifty  ways  of  Mrs.  Lincoln  soon  made  an  impression  upon 
the  new  members  of  her  family.  Even  Thomas  Lincoln  began  to  fix  up 
and  the  house  was  becoming  quite  snug  and  comfortable.  The  children 
were  sent  to  the  school-house  close  by,  the  meeting  house  to  which  the 


64  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

traveling  schoolmaster  would  come  to  give  the  boys  and  girls  four 
months^  schooling  each  year.  It  was  in  this  miserable  log  hut,  scarcely 
high  enough  for  a  man  to  stand  erect,  with  holes  for  windows  and 
greased  paper  to  take  the  place  of  glass,  that  Abraham  Lincoln  received 
the  elements  of  his  meager  education.  Heading,  writing  and  ciphering 
was  his  entire  course  of  study.  For  two  years  he  attended  the  four 
months'  school,  making  eight  months  in  all,  less  than  a  year  of  school- 
ing, and  yet  he  was  again  and  again  at  the  head  of  his  classes.  In  the 
spelling  contests  he  was  sure  to  "spell  down"  the  entire  school,  "big 
and  little.'' 

The  care  that  his  stepmother  gave  him  began  to  tell.  He  was 
strong,  he  was  tall  and  he  was  wiry.  He  was  clean  and  decently 
clothed,  and  therefore  respected  himself.  He  was  gentle,  he  was  manly 
and  true,  he  was  good  natured,  never  a  bully,  but  always  a  protector 
of  the  girls  and  the  little  boys.  Though  he  was  often  ridiculed  by  the 
school  girls  and  his  narrow,  sharp,  bony  shins  provoked  their  mirth  and 
derision,  yet  he  never  retaliated,  but  when  occasion  required  proved 
himself  their  staunch  ally.  It  is  related  that  when  one  of  the  girls 
who  had  "poked  more  fun  at  him"  than  any  of  the  others  was  one  day 
being  brutally  reprimanded  by  the  teacher,  a  rude  and  unlettered 
schoolmaster,  because  she  persisted  in  spelling  definite  with  a  y,  Abe 
with  a  significant  cough  attracted  her  attention  and  placed  his  long 
bony  finger  on  his  closed  eye.  The  girl  understood  the  gesture,  the 
word  was  spelled  correctly  and  thus  the  threatened  punishment  was 
averted. 

LINCOLN    ALWAYS    A    GENTLEMAN 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  always  a  gentleman.  He  was  never  unkind 
nor  cruel  and  any  inhuman  treatment  to  animals  was  quickly  resented. 
The  boys  of  his  age  and  acquaintance  were  in  the  habit  of  putting  live 
coals  on  the  backs  of  turtles  so  as  to  see  them  writhe  and  twist  This 
so  incensed  the  young  lad  that  for  this  act  of  cruelty  he  gave  many  a 
boy  a  sound  "drubbing."  It  is  said  by  some  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  biographers 
1ihat  his  first  composition  was  on  "Cruelty  to  Animals." 

During  the  period  of  Abraham  Lincoln's  boyhood  and  young  man- 


^BE'S  NEW  MOTHER  AND  HIS  NEW  LIFE.  65 

hood  he  was  called  the  girls'  champion  and  protector,  while  in  his  later 
years,  and,  in  fact,  through  all  the  years  of  his  life,  he  was  con- 
spicuous as  the  defender  of  woman's  honor.  When  a  young  lad,  during 
his  struggles  for  an  education  and  when  he  could  think  and  write  only 
indifferently,  he  was  in  the  habit  of  amusing  himself  by  composing 
verses,  doggerel  verses  to  be  sure,  but  the  following  composition  shows 
the  trend  of  his  thoughts: 

LINCOLN^S    FIRST    POEM 

'When  Adam  was  created 

He  dwelt  in  Eden's  shade. 
As  Moses  has  recorded, 

And  soon  a  bride  was  made. 

The  Lord  then  was  not  willing 

That  man  should  be  alone. 
But  caused  a  sleep  upon  him 

And  from  him  took  a  bone, 

And  closed  the  flesh  instead  thereof, 

And  then  he  took  the  same 
And  of  it  made  a  woman 

And  brought  her  to  the  man. 

Then  Adam  he  rejoiced 

To  see  his  loving  bride, 
A  part  of  his  own  body. 

The  product  of  his  side. 

The  woman  was  not  taken 

From  Adam's  feet  we  see, 
So  he  must  not  abuse  her 

The  meaning  seems  to  be. 

The  woman  was  not  taken 

From  Adam's  head  we  know, 
To  show  she  must  not  rule  him 

'Ti«  evidently  so. 


66  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

The  woman  she  was  taken 

From  under  Adam's  arm, 
So  she  must  be  protected 

From  injuries  and  harm." 

EAGER    FOR    KNOWLEDGE 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  now  fifteen  years  old,  and  a  homelier  boy  or 
more  ungainly,  awkward  lad  probably  could  not  be  found  in  the  whole 
Western  country.  He  had  very  little  education  so  far  as  schooling  goes, 
but  he  had  taken  advantage  of  every  opportunity,  no  matter  how 
simple  or  meager.  Every  scrap  of  printed  paper  that  he  could  get  hold 
of  he  devoured  and  digested.  If  a  sentence  or  paragraph  pleased  or 
interested  him  he  would  write  it  down  with  a  piece  of  charcoal  on  a 
slab  of  wood  or  on  the  logs  of  the  house,  in  fact,  in  every  conceivable 
place  that  he  could  find.  He  was  always  around  when  any  of  the 
settlers  came  to  the  house  and  was  a  quiet  listener  to  the  conversa- 
tion. If  a  traveler  stopped  before  his  father's  house  young  Abe  was 
the  first  to  mount  the  fence  and  question  the  caller,  in  regard  to  the  out- 
side world.  His  curiosity  was  so  tremendous  that  every  passing 
stranger  was  hailed,  and  the  young  lad  would  put  his  inquiries  with 
so  much  intelligence  and  enthusiasm  that  his  hearer  would  not  only 
pause  but  tarry  and  cheerfully  impart  to  the  boy  his  fund  of  infor- 
mation. 

ABE  WORKED  FOR  WAGES 

His  father  now  thought  that  his  son  "fooled  away"  enough  time, 
and  therefore  he  told  him  that  "he  must  go  to  work  for  wages  and 
bring  the  money  home."  The  boy  obeyed  his  father  willingly  and 
started  out  barefoot,  chopping,  grubbing,  ploughing,  mowing,  cradling, 
gathering  and  husking  corn  for  the  neighbors;  but  never  losing  an 
opportunity  to  read — constantly  reading.  When  he  returned  to  his 
home  at  night  and  after  the  farm  and  household  chores  were  "done," 
instead  of  joining  the  family  meal  he  would  take  from  the  cupboard 
a  piece  of  corn  bread,  stretch  his  long  legs  out  and  eat,  reading  till  late 
into  the  night.  Thomas  Lincoln  would  often  complain,  call  the  boj^ 
lazy  and  declare  that  so  much  "readin'  would  spile  him."     But  his 


^BE'S  NEW  MOTHER  AND  HIS  NEW  LIFE.  67 

stepmother  would  take  his  part,  and  often  in  after  years  said  that  she 
"allers  allowed  Abe  to  read  till  he  quit  of  his  own  accord/' 

The  next  five  years  of  Abraham  Lincoln's  life  were  hard  and  the 
ugly  monotony  would  have  driven  most  boys  to  rebellion  or  dissipation. 
Though  dwelling  in  the  roughest  of  frontier  settlements  during  this 
molding  period  of  his  life,  yet  he  entered  upon  his  manhood  without 
having  acquired  a  vice.  His  privations  are  full  of  pathos,  but  the 
successes  of  his  life  were  gained  through  the  discipline  that  was 
imposed  upon  him  in  his  youth,  and  he  owed  his  strength  and  patience 
to  the  vicissitudes  that  he  had  been  obliged  to  endure.  His  spirit  was 
tried  by  fire  and  in  after  years,  through  all  the  trying  events  of  his 
political  and  public  life  as  President  of  the  United  States,  he  never 
failed  to  do  what  was  expected  of  him  at  the  vital  moment. 

HIS    FIRST    BOOK 

One  day  when  doing  some  work  for  his  old  schoolmaster,  Mr.  Craw- 
ford, who  had  given  up  teaching  and  was  now  a  citizen  of  the  settle- 
ment, Abraham  Lincoln  found  upon  a  table  a  copy  of  Weem's  Life  of 
Washington.  This  was  a  famous  book  in  those  days  and  the  boy  was 
very  anxious  to  read  it.  Mr.  Crawford  loaned  the  book  to  the  lad  with 
the  injunction  that  if  anything  happened  to  it  he  would  have  to  pay  for 
it.  With  this  possibility  staring  him  in  the  face  the  boy  was  unusually 
careful,  always  placing  the  book  out  of  reach  by  putting  it  on  the  top 
of  the  highest  shelf.  There  was,  however,  a  big  crack  between  the  logs 
back  of  the  rude  book-case  and  accidentally  the  book  fell  against  the 
opening.  During  the  night  a  severe  rainstorm  came  up  and  when  Abe 
awoke  in  the  morning  he  found  the  book  completely  watersoaked.  Mr. 
Crawford  was  a  cross  and  cranky  old  man,  and  when  Abraham  Lincoln 
told  him  of  the  accident  he  stormed  and  scolded  and  said  that  he  must 
"pull  fodder  for  his  cattle  for  three  days."  Although  the  boy  considered 
the  penalty  unjust,  he  said  not  a  word  but  complied  with  the  demand, 
and  it  was  in  this  manner  that  Abraham  Lincoln  paid  for  the  first  book 
that  he  ever  owned. 

Not  having  been  able  to  find  in  the  different  histories  of  Mr.  Lin- 


68  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

coin's  life  an  account  or  even  an  allusion  to  the  animal  pets  that  a  boy 
usually  possesses,  in  one  of  my  conversations  I  asked  "Uncle  John  HalV' 
if  Mr.  Lincoln  did  not  as  a  boy  care  for  pets,  such  as  rabbits,  squirrels, 
birds,  or  dogs,  remarking  that  as  he  always  seemed  so  kind  and 
tender  to  everything  I  imagined  that  he  must  have  many.  He  replied 
to  my  question  by  saying,  "Why,  Uncle  Abe  allers  wanted  everything 
to  be  free  and  enjoy  theirselves  jest  as  God  intended  they  should,  but 
grandmarm  use  to  tell  us  a  story  about  a  dog  they  onct  hed  and  she'd 
told  it  like  this: 

A    HEARTY    RECEPTION 

"  'The  boys  took  it  into  their  heads  they'd  like  a  dog,  so  Uncle  Abe, 
John  D.  Johnston  and  the  rest  teased  grandpap  to  get  one.  Wall,  he 
found  a  bull  pup  that  nobody  cared  for  and  brought  it  hum.  Ye  ought 
ter  hev  seed  how  tickled  they  wus.  Jest  arter  this,  father  went  down 
the  river  with  a  boat-load  of  stuff.  In  those  days  it  took  a  long  time 
to  go  down  to  New  Orleans.  Father  wus  gone  six  months,  and  of  course 
the  pup  hed  grown  up  to  be  quite  a  big  dog.  One  day  we  wus  all  look- 
ing out  of  the  winder  when  we  seed  your  grandfather  comin'  through 
the  woods.  He  had  been  gone  so  long  we  thought  he  wus  dead.  You 
jest  reckon  when  we  seed  him  we  all  rushed  out  and  got  around  his 
neck,  all  of  us  and  Aunt  Betsy  Hanks,  and  we  hugged  and  hugged  and 
kissed  him  and  made  the  terriblest  fuss  you  ever  seed.  But  the  bull 
dog,  he  didn't  know  what  to  think  about  such  a  row,  and  he  was  tu 
young  when  your  grandfather  went  away  to  remember  him,  so  he  jest 
showed  his  teeth  and  took  a  holt,  tu ;  but  the  holt  wus  behind  and  we 
didn't  see  the  dog,  but  yer  grandfather  felt  it  though,  and  between 
the  dog  and  all  of  us  he  hed  a  hard  time.  He  hollered  and  kicked  and 
throwed  us  first  one  way  and  then  t'other  and  then  tried  to  tackel  the 
dog,  but  he  hed  hold  in  such  a  awk'ard  place  that  before  he  could  get 
rid  of  the  pup  the  seat  of  his  breetches  wus  nigh  gone  and  he  hed  a 
wound,  the  scar  of  which  he  carried  till  he  died.'  Wall,  that  finished 
the  dog  business,  and  our  folks  all  round  haint  much  hands  for  a  dog 
since  no  how." 


CHAPTER  X. 

STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  KINDNESS  TO  ANIMALS 

IN  SPITE  of  the  historic  interest  connected  with  the  place,  time  hung 
heavily.    The  commonness  of  all  about  us  was  so  oppressive  and 
the  sweltering  heat  so  depressing  that  my  young  lady  friend  was 
tempted  to  return  to  Chicago.     The  promise  of  a  more  varied  and 
pleasanter  visit  reassured  her  and  she  concluded  to  remain  and  enjoy 
or  suffer  with  me,  as  the  case  might  be,  the  allotted  period  of  our  stay. 

THE    IRON    WASHBOWL 

The  fourth  day  arrived  and  seemingly  promised  to  be  a  repetition 
of  the  other  uneventful  and  tiresome  days.  The  heat  was  intolerable, 
Old  Sol  renewed  his  strength  and  was  determined  to  test  our  powers 
of  endurance.  At  last  becoming  disgusted  we  counseled  together  and 
decided  upon  a  change.  Looking  across  the  fields  we  caught  a  glimpse 
of  the  old  log  cabin,  shaded  by  the  huge  old  locust  tree  that  "Grandpap 
Lincoln"  had  planted  soon  after  the  erection  of  the  log  house.  It  was 
uninhabited,  there  was  no  steaming  hot  stove,  the  doors  opposite  were 
standing  wide  open  and  we  knew  a  breeze  must  be  blowing  through 
the  house.  All  this  was  indeed  inviting.  We  determined  to  cross  the 
"medder",  and  once  again  we  stood  within  the  shadow  of  the  "old  log 
cabin.''  Remaining  on  the  north  side  of  the  house  and  sitting  down 
upon  an  old  «tump,  close  to  the  door,  upon  which  had  stood  the  iron 
wash-bowl,  in  the  days  gone  by  (I  could  even  see  the  dish  of  old-fash- 
ioned home-made  soap),  we  took  in  the  entire  situation  from  an  en- 
tirely different  standpoint,  and  for  the  first  time  since  our  arrival 
enjoyed  the  peculiar  circumstances  that  had  befallen  us. 


"SARVIN*    HIS    TIME    IN    THE    LEQISLATOOR" 

Time  turned  backward,  the  cabin  was  a  scene  of  life  and  activity 
again.    Its  inmates  were  humble,  poor  folks,  yet  the  interior  of  the 

69 


70  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

house  was  clean  and  tidy.  The  fire  was  burning  briskly,  the  tea-kettle 
was  singing  a  merry  song,  the  table  was  set,  the  younger  members  of 
the  family  were  astride  the  fence  looking  down  the  road.  Thomas  Lin- 
coln, whittling  a  stick,  was  telling  his  neighbor  that  his  son,  who  had 
^^been  sarvin'  his  time  in  the  Legislatoor,"  was  coming  to  see  him.  The 
mother,  standing  at  the  gate  holding  in  her  hand  a  bunch  of  holly- 
hocks and  "bouncing  betties"  that  grew  so  profusely  in  the  front  yard, 
was  also  watching  for  her  boy,  Abe.  From  an  unexpected  direction 
there  appeared  a  tall,  ungainly  figure;  upon  his  head  was  a  "stove- 
pipe hat,"  in  his  hand  an  old  black  canvas  satchel,  and  beside  him 
a  young  woman  who  strove  to  keep  step  with  his  long  paces.  They 
approach  the  cabin.  Cousin  Sarah  Hall,  one  of  Mrs.  Lincoln's  grand- 
daughters, had  left  the  house  unobserved  and  cutting  "across  lots"  had 
interrupted  her  relative  whom  she  begged  to  abandon  the  traveled 
road  and  stroll  through  the  woods  with  her  that  she  might  first  hear 
the  news.  With  his  usual  kindness  and  willingness  to  please,  Mr. 
Lincoln  agreed  to  the  proposition,  and  so  they  wandered  down  the  river- 
bank  and  up  through  the  woods,  finally  coming  into  the  yard  from  an 
unexpected  quarter. 

A    SNAKE    STORY 

Mr.  HalPs  recital  of  this  circumstance  was  recalled  and  I 
could  in  imagination  again  hear  him  relate  in  his  quaint  and 
homely  fashion  the  conversation  that  passed  between  Mrs.  Lincoln 
and  her  granddaughter  Sarah,  Uncle  John  HalPs  sister.  "Sister  Sary 
said  to  Grandmarm  as  they  came  into  the  yard,  ^Wall,  I  ken  now 
believe  all  that  yer  ever  told  me  about  Uncle  Abe's  bein'  kind  to  dumb 
critters.  Jest  think  of  it,  we  run  across  a  couple  of  big  black  snakes 
ahanging  from  a  paw  paw  tree  and  when  I  said  to  him,  come  quick 
and  kill  the  black  varmints,  Uncle  Abe  jest  turned  around  and  seed 
them  tu,  ahangin'  from  a  branch  agettin'  warm  in  the  sun,  and  he 
walked  off  and  wouldn't  touch  'em,  and  he  said,  "No,  no,  their  lives  are 
just  as  sweet  to  them  as  ours  are  to  us." ' " 


LINCOLN'S  KINDNESS  TO  ANIMALS.  71 

UNKNOWN    ENEMIES 

Miss  Coleman,  stretched  out  at  full  length  upon  the  grass  in  the 
shade  of  the  old  locust  tree,  had  fallen  asleep.  I  went  into  the 
c*abin  and  explored  its  interior  with  the  hope  of  finding  some  relic  that 
had  been  overlooked  and  left  behind  by  John  Hall  and  his  family,  when 
they  moved  into  the  cottage  on  the  hill.  Nothing  but  emptiness  and 
vacancy  and  loneliness  was  encountered;  the  silence  appalled  me  and 
a  consciousness  of  the  presence  of  the  departed  took  possession  of  me. 
Again  Thomas  Lincoln^s  pleasant  voice  responded  to  the  "howdy"  of 
his  neighbor,  with  the  answer,  "Purty  middling  and  that's  the  best  of 
the  hog  ye  know."  The  whir  of  Grandma  Lincoln's  wheel  was  heard. 
Abraham  Lincoln's  tall,  gaunt  figure  was  bent,  and  his  "high"  hat  was  in 
his  hand  that  he  might  pass  through  the  low  doorway.  A  sort  of 
superstitious  fear  seized  me  and  I  fled  from  the  house.  My  rapid  and 
boisterous  exit  aroused  the  sleeping  young  woman.  Rubbing  her  eyes 
and  yawning,  she  demanded  that  we  return  to  the  little  cottage. 
'Twas  twelve  o'clock  and  time  for  dinner,  she  said.  Unlatching  the  gate 
we  passed  out  of  the  door-yard  and  intended  to  return  to  the  house  by 
way  of  the  cornfield,  but  directly  in  front  of  us,  in  our  path,  was  a  drove 
of  hogs  which  stared  at  us  in  such  a  ferocious  manner  that  we  felt  the 
necessity  of  making  a  change  of  base,  and  therefore  turned  about  and 
undertook  to  walk  through  the  "medder  lot,"  but  here  again  we  found 
an  enemy,  his  royal  highness,  Mr.  Bull,  who  eyed  us  so  steadily  that  we 
climbed  the  high  rail  fence  in  considerable  haste  and  awaited  develop- 
ments. 

THE    RESCUE 

We  had  been  missed  from  the  house  on  the  hill  and  our  friend,  Mr. 
Hall,  getting  anxious  on  account  of  our  long  delay,  started  out  to  find 
his  guests.  When  he  spied  us  on  the  top  of  the  rail  fence,  holding  on 
for  dear  life,  he  laughed  immoderately  and  hallooed,  "take  courage, 
I'll  save  ye."  Mr.  Hall  approached  the  "gentlemanly"  creature  and 
when  he  stroked  him  on  the  neck  the  heretofore  vicious  animal  dropped 
his  head  and  walked  away  as  quietly  as  though  he  had  never  had  any 


n  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

unkind  intentions.    Mr.  Hall  politely  assisted  us  to  the  ground,  and  w© 
thanked  our  rescuer  and  rejoiced  over  our  deliverance. 


tr 


DON'T    BE    SO    SQUEAMISH" 


Uncle  John  had  told  us  of  the  wonderful  sulphur  spring  whose 
waters  had  been  described  as  being  delicious  and  good  for  all  kinds  of 
"sores  and  eruptions."  A«  a  cure  for  the  "seven-year  itch"  it  was  in- 
valuable, and  when  he  informed  us  that  the  spring  was  "jest  over  that 
rise  of  ground"  we  consented  to  accompany  him.  We  were  tired, 
hungry  and  so  thirsty  that  almost  any  liquid  would  have  been  accept- 
able. Forming  a  cup  with  our  hands  we  undertook  to  drink  the  spark- 
ling water,  but  the  odor  was  so  peculiar  and  offensive  that  we  abso- 
lutely refused  to  even  taste  it.  Mr.  Hall,  dropping  upon  his  knees,  fairly 
plunged  his  face  into  the  spring  and  taking  a  long  draught  said,  "sho, 
women,  don't  be  so  squeamish  but  jest  stop  sniffing  and  take  a  stout 

pull." 

"THAR    WUS    NOTHIN'    BUT    POVERTY" 

Our  host  now  kindly  volunteered  to  guide  us  to  the  house  and  we 
gladly  accepted  his  proffered  service.  The  adventure  was  related  to  the 
family  and  Sis  exclaimed,  "I  allers  heerd  that  city  women  was  afraid  of 
farm  critters  and  the  like." 

The  afternoon  was  hot  and  sultry  and  the  hours  would  have  dragged 
had  not  Uncle  John  related  many  curious  and  quaint  stories  of  the 
Lincoln  family  and  their  relatives.  He  dwelt  upon  the  early  life  of 
Mr.  Lincoln  and  recounted  so  many  incidents  of  privation  and  dis- 
couragement and  sorrow  that  I  became  exceedingly  depressed  and 
begged  for  anything  that  savored  of  humor  or  romance.  My  host  shook 
his  head  and  said,  "Thar  was  nothing  but  poverty  and  work  and  mis- 
fortune for  our  family." 


"PAW    WENT    TO    FARIYIINGTON" 

We  retired  at  an  earlier  hour  than  usual  that  I  might  find,  in  slumber, 
a  panacea  for  all  lifers  griefs  and  discomforts.  But  after  hours  of  rest- 
less tossing  the  idea  of  sleep  was  abandoned  and  I  arose  and  sat  in  the 
open  door,  striving  in  vain  to  catch  a  refreshing  breeze.    The  night 


LINCOLN'S  KINDNESS  TO  'ANIMALS.  73 

deepened;  the  uncanny  and  bewitching  midnight-hour  filled  me  with 
terror  and  drove  me  back  into  the  hot,  stifling  atmosphere  of  the  little 
front  room.  The  "break  of  day"  was  gladly  welcomed  for  the  noise  and 
bustle  of  the  feathered  tribe  was  an  indication  that  the  family  would 
soon  be  astir,  and  my  fainting  condition  relieved.  But  exhaustion  over- 
came me  and  I  fell  into  a  heavy,  dreamless  sleep,  and  did  not  awaken 
until  rudely  shaken  by  Sis,  who  announced  that  "if  I  wanted  to  write 
any  more  stories  that  day  about  the  President  of  the  United  States  I^d 
hev  to  be  up  and  doin',  for  paw  hed  to  go  down  to  Farmington  and 
wanted  to  get  offen  his  mind  what  he  had  to  say  afore  he  went."  The 
day  was  so  hot  and  sultry  that  I  excused  him  and  suggested  to  Miss 
Coleman  that  we  also  take  "a  day  off." 


CHAPTER  XI. 

STARTING  OUT  IN   LIFE 

f  N  THOSE  days  when  Abraham  Lincoln  was  a  young  lad  the  son's 
I  wages  belonged  to  the  father  until  twenty-one  years  old;  but  as 
the  country  was  sparsely  settled  and  the  people  very  poor  we  can- 
not imagine  that  Abraham  Lincoln  earned  a  fortune  for  either  himself 
or  his  father.  When  he  was  sixteen  years  old  he  ran  a  ferry  boat 
across  the  mouth  of  Anderson  Creek  w^here  it  empties  into  the  Ohio 
River.  When  he  was  not  paddling  the  boat  across  the  stream  he  was 
doing  farm  and  house  chores.  He  remained  with  his  employer  nine 
months,  and  during  that  time  was  hostler,  plough-boy,  ferryman  and 
farm  hand.  When  he  was  at  work  in  the  house  he  did  everything  from 
running  the  hand  mill  that  ground  the  meal  for  the  family  to  perform- 
ing the  duties  that  belong  to  a  "maid-of-all-work,"  for  all  of  which  he 
received  but  six  dollars  a  month.  His  accommodations  were  uncom- 
fortable and  he  was  obliged  to  sleep  in  the  loft  with  his  employer's 
son,  who  often  insulted  and  ridiculed  him. 

MR.    CRAWFORD'S    NOSE 

After  this  experience  he  went  back  to  his  old  home  and  loafed  about, 
as  young  Abe  called  it,  for  awhile,  building  fires,  carrying  water,  chop- 
ping wood,  splitting  rails,  ploughing,  sowing,  reaping  or  choring  for 
the  women.  At  last  he  became  so  perfectly  ravenous  for  "some  read- 
ing" that  he  hired  out  to  cross,  old  Mr.  Crawford  that  he  might  get  a 
chance  to  read  all  of  his  books.  While  in  Mr.  Crawford's  employ  he 
really  enjoyed  himself,  although  the  cranky  old  man  "docked  him" 
whenever  he  "missed  time."  During  this  period  of  his  life,  however, 
he  gathered  a  great  deal  of  information  and  instruction  from  the  small 
but  well-selected  library.  After  having  finished  his  engagement  he 
took  his  revenge  upon  his  hard  taskmaster  by  writing  some  very  funny 
verse*  about  Mr.  Crawford's  nose.     The  nose  was  very  large,  crooked 

74 


STARTING  OUT  IN  LIFE,  75 

and  pulpy,  and  the  verses  were  very  poor,  but  both  verses  and  nose  be- 
came very  famous  all  about  the  country. 

THE  EXAMPLE  OF  EARLY  HARDSHIPS 

No  matter  what  circumstance  or  condition  came  into  Abraham 
Lincoln's  life,  instead  of  complaining,  he  profited  by  the  severe  ex- 
periences. As  the  years  progressed  and  his  hardships  and  privations 
increased,  he  met  them  with  a  firm  determination  to  conquer.  The 
struggle  for  the  mastery  did  much  to  perfect  that  character,  which  for 
quaint  simplicity,  gentleness,  integrity  and  honest  purpose  has  never 
been  surpassed  among  the  historic  personages  of  the  world.  His 
example  will  surely  teach  the  lesson  that  no  matter  how  poor  one 
ma;y  be  or  how  few  advantages  one  may  possess,  he  can,  if  he  will, 
acquire  sufficient  education  to  get  through  the  world,  not  only  re- 
spectably, but  honorably.  That  no  matter  how  lowly  one's  origin,  or 
how  humble  one's  home,  he  may  rise  to  affluence  and  power.  He  may, 
as  did  Abraham  Lincoln,  become  the  choice  of  the  people — the  repre- 
sentative of  a  mighty  nation. 

ABE    KEPT    RIGHT    ON 

Naturally  I  inferred,  as  no  doubt  most  people  have,  that  young  Abe 
was  considered,  among  his  associates  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  primi- 
tive settlement,  an  exceedingly  smart  boy,  and  so  I  remarked  to  Mr. 
Hall.  An  emphatic  ^^o"  was  the  response  of  my  host,  who  immedi- 
ately launched  out  into  a  somewhat  lengthy  account  of  what  the  neigh- 
bors and  family  thought  of  Abe's  ability:  "Grandmarm  said  'that  Abe 
wasn't  considered  nigh  so  smart  as  Uncle  John  D.  Johnston,  who  could 
talk  well,  dress  well,  and  go  about  the  neighborhood  of  an  evening.' 
Nuther  wus  he  much  of  hand  to  go  among  the  gals  'cept  to  corn  shuckin', 
and  as  John  D.  Johnston,  grandmarm's  son,  wus  right  peart,  she  told 
him  onct  that  John  would  cut  him  out  with  the  gals;  but  Abe  said  'that 
didn't  bother  him  any,'  and  so  the  folks  kept  thinking  that  John  wus 
the  smartest  of  the  two,  'cause  he  wus  allers  sittin'  in  the  house  at 
night  porin'  over  his  books,  quiet  and  sad  like,  and  John  could  talk 
right  smart  like.     At  last  John  began  to  quit  larnin',  but  Abe  kept 


76  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

right  on.    Then  his  mother  told  him  that  Abe  wus  gittin'  the  start  of 

him,  but  he  ses,  ses  he:  ^Don't  care,  marm,  'cause  I  can  go  with  Mahala 

Anderson,  a  right  smart  girl,  who  wears  a  right  smart  pair  of  mittens 

and  cuts  a  pea  in  two  and  jest  eats  ha'f  at  a  bite;'  but  grandmarm  said 

*that  Uncle  Abe  wus  allers  asked  to  all  the  shuckin'  bees  and  he  wus  the 

fust  one  chosen,  'cause  they  knowed  his  side  war  shore  to  win,  and  allers 

after  the  bee  wus  over  he  had  to  rastle  with  some  of  the  boys,  or  he^d 

tell  some  of  his  cur'us  stories  that  wus  so  funny  they'd  make  a  hog 

laugh.' " 

ABE    BECAME    A    LEADER 

We  are  told  some  wonderful  stories  concerning  Abraham  Lincoln's 
marvelous  strength,  and  no  doubt  he  was  an  unusually  strong  boy,  for 
his  severe  training  and  extraordinary  size  gave  him  great  advantages. 
It  is  well  known  that  in  physical  strength  and  athletic  feats  he  was 
the  master  of  them  all,  but  he  was  never  quarrelsome,  nor  disposed 
to  make  an  unpleasant  show  of  his  powers.  Nor  was  it  because  he 
was  strong  and  active,  but  merely  because  he  was  fair  and  honest  and 
true  and  just  in  all  his  relations  with  those  about  him  that  he  became 
a  leader  among  the  boys  and  young  men  of  his  neighborhood. 

THE    STUMP    SPEAKER 

About  this  time  he  got  hold  of  a  book  called  "The  Kentucky  Pre- 
ceptor," and  from  this  speaker  he  got  his  inspiration  for  oratory.  In 
the  harvest  field,  at  the  noon  hour,  he  would  mount  a  stump  and  his 
rough,  uneducated  audiences  were  held  spellbound  with  the  magic 
of  his  then  young  and  no  doubt  crude  oratory.  The  farm  hands  would 
stand  about  with  hands  jammed  down  into  the  pockets  of  their  trousers 
and  mouths  wide  open,  unmindful  of  the  flight  of  time,  till  either  his 
father  or  his  employer  would  seize  him  and  drag  him  from  the  im- 
provised platform.  Again  in  the  evening  the  neighbors  would  gather 
to  hear  him  spout,  as  they  called  his  speechmaking,  and  thus  he  would 
entertain  and  amuse  the  crowd  oftentimes  till  after  midnight.  Even 
at  this  early  age  he  was  noted  for  his  "funny  and  odd  stories,"  a  gift 
which  he  had  inherited  from  his  father,  who,  though  shiftless  and  lazy, 
was  always  good  natured  and  something  of  a  genius  in  his  own  way. 


ABE'S    PARENTS    TOO    POOR    TO    EURNISH    HIM    A    SLATE. 


< 

M 
o 
o 

< 

CO 

< 

o 

o 


STARTING  OUT  IN  LIFE,  W 

ABE^S    FIRST    VOYAQE 

That  Abraham  Lincoln  was  perfectly  content  with  the  humdrum 
life  that  he  was  leading,  and  was  satisfied  with  the  uncomfortable  con- 
ditions of  his  surroundingSj  is  not  at  all  probable.  He  had  already 
caught  glimpses  of  life  in  the  outside  world,  a  life  of  greater  sig- 
nificance and  greater  dignity.  Echoes  from  the  large  towns  and  cities 
had  reached  his  ears. 

He  was  now  eighteen  years  old,  and  was  beginning  to  chafe  at  his 
limited  horizon.  He  had  learned  the  use  of  tools,  and  by  nature  pos- 
sessed considerable  mechanical  talent,  and  so  he  set  to  work  to  build 
a  boat  and  in  it  row  out  into  the  wide,  wide  world. 

TWO    SILVER    HALF    DOLLARS 

Mr.  Lincoln  himself  never  gave  any  detailed  account  of  his  ventures, 
but  after  he  became  the  Chief  Executive  of  the  United  States  he  told 
Mr.  Seward,  the  Secretary  of  State,  the  following  story:  "I  was  stand- 
ing at  a  landing  on  the  Ohio  River  and  a  steamer  w^as  coming  down 
the  river.  At  the  same  time  two  passengers  came  to  the  river's  brink 
who  wished  to  be  taken  with  their  luggage  out  to  the  packet.  They 
selected  my  boat  and  asked  me  to  scull  them  to  the  steamer.  This  I 
did,  and  after  seeing  them  and  their  trunks  on  board  I  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  receiving  a  silver  half  dollar  from  each  of  the  gentlemen.  I 
could  scarcely  believe  my  eyes.''  And,  facing  Mr.  Seward,  he  said: 
"You  may  think  this  a  very  simple  matter,  but  it  was  a  most  important 
incident  in  my  life.  I  could  hardly  realize  that  T,  a  poor  boy,  had 
earned  a  dollar  in  less  than  a  day.  The  world  seemed  wider  and  fairer 
before  me;  I  was  a  more  hopeful  and  confident  being  from  that  time." 

ABE'S    SECOND    VOYAGE 

This  event  aroused  a  new  train  of  thought  and  urged  the  young  man 
on  to  further  and  larger  effort.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  Abraham  Lin- 
coln made  his  second  vo^'^age,  and  at  this  time  caught  something  more 
than  a  glimpse  of  the  great  world  in  which  he  was  to  play  so  important 
and  tragic  a  part.    A  neighbor  applied  to  him  to  take  charge  of  a  flat 


78  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

boat  and  its  cargo,  and  in  company  with  his  own  son  take  it  to  New 
Orleans.  He  was  given  charge  of  the  entire  business,  and  the  fact 
that  he  had  never  made  the  trip,  knew  nothing  of  river  navigation,  and 
was  unaccustomed  to  business  transactions,  made  the  contract  an  un- 
usual proceeding.  But  Abraham  Lincoln's  tact,  ability  and  honesty 
were  so  thoroughly  established  that  the  trader  did  not  feel  the  least 
hesitancy  in  trusting  him  with  the  cargo  and  his  son's  welfare. 

The  young  men  of  to-day  cannot  imagine  the  delight  that  entered 
into  the  heart  of  young  Lincoln  as  he  swung  loose  from  the  shore  upon 
his  clumsy  craft  and  realized  that  he  had  started  upon  a  journey  of 
nearly  eighteen  hundred  miles. 

With  modern  inventions  and  the  innovation  of  the  iron  horse  into 
all  parts  of  oar  great  and  wealthy  country,  it  is  utterly  impossible  that 
any  of  those  early  and  simple  conditions  can  now  exist. 

AN    EXCITING    ADVENTURE 

The  incidents  of  the  trip  were  not  likely  to  be  very  exciting,  t)ut  the 
social  intercourse  that  the  young  man  enjoyed  with  the  hunters  and 
settlers  along  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  and  an  exchange 
of  ideas  with  the  boatmen  of  similar  craft  was  a  wellspring  of  joy  and 
pleasure  to  the  backwoodsman.  At  length  the  boat  was  pulled  in 
and  tied  to  the  shore  for  the  purpose  of  trade  at  a  sugar  plantation 
somewhere  between  Natchez  and  New  Orleans.  Night  was  approach- 
ing and  consequently  business  must  be  deferred  until  morning.  The 
tired  voyagers  laid  down  to  rest  and  sleep,  when  Abraham  heard  a 
noise  that  aroused  his  suspicion.  He  shouted,  "Who's  there."  The 
noise  continued,  and  not  waiting  for  a  reply,  Lincoln  sprang  to  his  feet 
and  discovered  several  negroes  evidently  intending  to  steal  the  cargo. 
Seizing  a  handspike,  he  rushed  toward  them  and  knocked  into  the  w^ater 
the  first  one  that  attempted  to  get  on  to  the  boat.  The  second,  third 
and  fourth,  who  tried  to  leap  on  board,  were  served  in  the  same  rough 
way.  The  remainder,  no  doubt,  felt  that  they  would  meet  the  same 
fate,  and  so  they  turned  to  flee,  but  Lincoln  and  his  young  companion 
had  become  so  excited  that  they  jumped  ashore  and  gave  chase  to  the 
negroes,  whom  they  soon  overtook   and   gave  all  of  them  a  sound 


STARTING  OUT  IN  LIFE.  79 

pounding.  The  young  men  returned  to  the  boat  just  as  the  first  colored 
men  were  escaping  from  the  water,  but  further  pursuit  was  abandoned. 
Abraham  and  his  companion  were  injured,  but  not  disabled,  and  being 
unarmed  they  were  unwilling  to  remain  at  that  point  any  longer  for 
fear  that  the  negroes  would  receive  reinforcements.  Cutting  loose,  the 
boat  floated  down  the  river  a  few  miles  and  was  tied  up  again,  while 
the  now  excited  young  men  eagerly  watched  for  the  day  to  dawn. 

ARRIVAL    AT    NEW    ORLEANS 

The  trip  was  made  to  New  Orleans  without  further  accident,  and 
when  the  young  men  arrived  at  the  Crescent  City  the  unusual  sights  of 
that  peculiar  Southern  metropolis  burst  upon  their  view,  and  the  coun- 
try boys  were  both  astonished  and  delighted. 

The  anticipation  and  anxiety  of  bringing  to  a  successful  issue  the 
business  that  he  had  been  intrusted  with,  absorbed  Abraham  Lincoln's 
attention  so  closely  that  he  gave  little  heed  to  the  peculiar  customs  and 
methods  that  prevailed  in  that  city  before  the  war.  After  some  unex- 
pected delay  and  worriment  he  succeeded  in  selling  the  entire  cargo 
at  a  good  profit. 

Being  relieved  of  the  pressing  business,  Abraham  Lincoln  and  his 
young  friend  concluded  to  look  about  and  take  in  the  sights. 

The  institution  of  slavery  was  a  question  that  the  young  lad  had 
pondered  over.  He  had  often  been  heard  to  express  himself  as  being 
"sorry  for  the  black  man's  enslavement,  and  often  said  that  when  he 
grew  to  be  a  man  he  hoped  that  he  could  help  free  the  negro." 

Here  was  an  opportunity  for  the  young  man  to  see  the  effects  of  the 
unjust  institution  in  all  its  deformity  and  evil  results.  From  this 
time  on  till  the  shackles  of  millions  of  slaves  were  broken,  Abraham 
Lincoln  never  ceased  to  speak  in  open  condemnation  of  slavery. 

THE    RETURN 

The  trip  was  at  last  ended.  The  cargo  sold  for  money  and  the  raft 
itself  also  disposed  of,  the  young  men  retraced  their  tedious  journey 
on  foot,  which  occupied  several  weeks. 


80  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM.  LINCOLN, 

The  venturesome  enterprise  for  two  such  youths  turned  out  a  capital 
thing,  and  when  their  narrow  escape  was  known  the  trip  on  the  flatboat 
w^as  talked  of  as  a  wonderful  expedition,  and  Abraham  Lincoln  re- 
ceived the  credit  of  being  a  good  boatman,  an  excellent  manager  and  a 
first-class  salesman. 

The  success  of  the  journey  and  its  satisfactory  results  were  due  to 
the  tact,  judgment,  ability  and  fidelity  of  the  young  man,  and  his 
employer  was  not  chary  in  his  praise.  He  was  heard  to  say  with  con- 
siderable conceit :  "I  was  sure  of  my  man,  for  I  had  tested  Abe  Lincoln's 
honesty  in  more  ways  than  one." 


CHAPTER   XII. 

SECOND   NEW  HOME-VISIONS  OF  WEALTH 

THOMAS  LINCOLN'S  household  was  now  greatly  diminished. 
There  had  been  three  weddings  in  the  family.  Sarah  Lincoln,  his 
daughter,  when  only  fifteen  years  old,  had  married  Aaron  Grigsby, 
a  young  man  living  near  neighbor  to  the  "Linkhorns,"  as  the  name  was 
then  pronounced.  The  sister  of  Abraham  had  been  married  but  a  year 
when  she  died,  thus  adding  another  severe  sorrow  to  young  Abe's  tender 
and  sensitive  heart.  In  speaking  of  the  marriage  of  Mrs.  Lincoln's  two 
daughters,  Mr.  Hall  refers  to  that  of  his  mother's,  who  was  Matilda 
Johnston,  the  younger  girl,  in  the  following  manner:  "Grandmarm' 
told  me  that  grandpap  was  so  awful  poor  that  she  was  glad  to  have 
mother  get  married,  and  that  when  she  was  fourteen  years  old  paw, 
who  wus  only  nineteen,  came  along  and  asked  her  to  hitch  up.  She 
said  yes  right  smart."  Glancing  at  me.  Uncle  John  Hall  said:  "I 
can't  think  that  paw  and  ma  wus  much  better  off  than  grandpap,  be- 
cause they  hed  to  go  out  in  the  woods  and  gather  leaves  for  to  make 
their  bed  of,  and  so  they  hed  to  stay  with  grandpap  and  grandmarm 
till  they  could  get  somethin'  ahead." 

ANOTHER    PROiVIISED    LAND 

A  general  discontent  now  seized  the  entire  Lincoln  household  and 
the  members  of  the  family  began  to  talk  of  "moving  away"  from  In- 
diana. The  country  was  still  very  unhealthful,  the  land  was  difficult  of 
cultivation  and  the  sons-in-law  as  well  as  Abraham  were  anxious  to 
make  a  change  in  order  to  better  their  condition  if  possible.  Reports 
were  now  coming  to  the  family  that  the  prairie  lands  of  Illinois  were 
rich  beyond  imagination;  that  farms  could  be  obtained  for  almost 
nothing;  that  the  land  only  needed  the  plough  and  the  hoe  to  make  it 
immediately  productive. 

81 


82  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

DENNIS    HANKS'    RETURN 

One  day  Dennis  Hanks,  who  had  been  with  the  Lincolns  since  the 
death  of  his  mother,  Betsy  Sparrow,  came  rushing  into  the  house  and 
announced  his  intention  of  going  over  into  Illinois  for  the  purpose  of 
finding  a  farm  big  enough  and  rich  enough  for  the  "hull  family."  The 
young  man  left  with  high  hopes,  and  the  inmates  of  the  humble  home 
anxiously  awaited  his  return.  In  proper  season  he  came  back  and 
gave  such  glowing  accounts  of  the  new  country  that  the  family  were 
anxious  to  move  at  the  earliest  opportunity.  Mr.  Lincoln  sold  out  his 
squatter^g  claim  in  Indiana  and  early  in  the  spring  of  1829,  with  his 
family,  his  two  sons-in-law  and  their  wives  and  children,  left  the  old 
home  for  the  promised  land. 

THE    JOURNEY    TO    ILLINOIS 

Mr.  HalPs  quaint  and  peculiar  description  of  the  journey  to  Illinois 
and  the  life  and  changes  of  the  Lincoln  family  will  interest  the  reader 
and  convey  a  true  impression  of  those  unfortunate  days  that  came  to 
Abraham  Lincoln  and  his  people.  He  said:  "Grandpap  and  grandmarm 
got  so  awful  poor  when  they  lived  down  in  Indiany  that  their  cows  took 
the  milk  sickness  and  all  of  the  family  got  the  milk  fever;  why  Aunt 
Betsy  Hanks  like  to  died  with  it,  and  the  times  wus  hard  and  the 
pickin'  so  poor  they  jest  made  up  their  minds  they  would  move,  and 
so  we  picked  up  and  come  over  into  Illinoy  and  settled  jest  a  few  miles 
from  where  Decatur  is  now  located.  I  wus  a  suckin'  babe  when  they  left 
Indiany  and  we  moved  all  on  one  big  wagon  from  Spencer  County,  In- 
diany. There  wus  father  and  mother  and  John  D.  Johnston,  Abe  Lin- 
coln and  grandmarm,  Uncle  Dennis  Hanks,  Uncle  John  Hanks  and  his 
wife  and  Aunt  Sarry  and  her  man  and  Grandpap  Lincoln.  The  team 
that  we  moved  with  wus  a  four  yoke  of  oxen."  Pointing  to  the  old 
cabin,  he  said:  "Don't  you  mind  that  old  yoke  that  hangs  on  the  north 
side  of  the  old  cabin?  Well,  that's  the  same  old  yoke  that  grandpap 
brought  up  from  Indiany.  Uncle  Abe  he  druv  one  of  the  teams  and 
grandmarm  said,  ^He'd  often  carry  me  in  his  arms.'  When  we  first 
come  to  this  State  we  stopped  at  Macon  County.     Grandfather  Lincoln 


SECOND  NEW  HOME— VISIONS  OF   WEALTH,  83 

and  Uncle  Abe  Lincoln  cut  the  poles  and  built  a  log  house.  Then 
they  split  rails  to  fence  in  ten  acres  of  prairie  land  right  on  the  edge 
of  the  timber,  and  took  it  for  a  squatter's  claim.  They  lived  on  this 
place  about  a  year,  but  they  all  liked  to  died  with  the  chills  and  fever, 
and  wus  afraid  to  stay  there  any  longer  for  fear  they'd  all  die 
off.  That  winter  the  snow  come  so  stiff  they  could  catch  deer  on  the  top 
of  it.  The  snow  would  break  through  with  the  deer,  but  not  with  the 
dogs,  and  then  they'd  chase  them  down. 

MAKE    ANOTHER    MOVE 

"The  next  year  we  moved  ag'in  to  a  place  south  of  Mattoon  and  called 
it  Buck  Grove,  because  the  men  found  two  big  bucks  what  had  been 
fightin',  with  their  horns  locked  together,  and  they  hed  died  that  way. 
They  built  a  log  house  and  lived  there  one  year,  I  think,  and  then  went 
down  in  the  timber,  further  south  two  or  three  miles,  and  built  another 
house.  They  stayed  there  but  a  short  time,  when  grandpap  took  it  into 
his  head  ag'in  that  he  hed  to  move.  He  wus  an  uncommon  uneasy  man, 
and  a  moving  about  so  much  seemed  to  make  him  mighty  unfortunate. 
Grandmarm  said  *it  wus  like  the  children  of  Israel  trying  to  find  the 
promised  land,'  but  no  Eed  Sea  divided  fur  them,  fur  in  coming  up  from 
Indiany  they  hed  to  ford  thru  many  a  swollen  stream  and  all  sorts  of 
other  difficulties  beset  'em.'' 

COMING    OF    AGE 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  now  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  he  had 
determined  to  see  the  world  for  himself — ^to  branch  out  and  seek  his 
fortune.  He  so  announced  his  intention  and  left  home,  although  he 
still  remained  in  the  neighborhood,  paying  for  his  board  and  clothes 
by  splitting  rails,  for  money  was  a  commodity  never  reckoned  upon  in 
the  Lincoln  family.  It  is  told  by  Mr.  Herdon,  one  of  Mr.  Lincoln's 
biographers,  that  he  made  a  bargain  with  one  of  the  women  in  the  set- 
tlement, "that  for  every  yard  of  brown  jeans,  dyed  with  white  walnut 
bark,  he  would  split  her  four  hundred  rails."  In  those  days  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  often  walked  five,  six  and  seven  miles  to  his  work. 


84  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

ANOTHER    IVIOVE 

Again  Mr.  Hall  took  up  the  narrative  and  said:  "Well,  ag^in,  in 
the  spring  of  1831,  grandpap  moved  and  come  up  here  into  Coles  County 
and  built  a  log  house  jest  a  little  northeast  of  where  the  cabin  now 
stands."  This  last  statement  I  did  not  quite  understand,  therefore  I 
questioned.  The  information  I  gained  put  me  in  possession  of  the  fact 
that  the  east  room  of  the  cabin  was  built  by  Thomas  Lincoln  and  Uncle 
Abe  some  distance  from  its  present  site.  After  a  few  months  it  was 
moved  down  nearer  the  road  leading  from  Goose  Prairie  to  Charleston, 
and  Abraham  Lincoln  insisted  that  another  room  should  be  added. 
The  house  now  contained  thirteen  people,  young  and  old,  and  there  was 
no  opportunity  for  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lincoln  to  have  a  quiet  moment. 
Abraham  Lincoln  upon  the  occasion  of  his  visit  at  this  time  announced 
his  intention  ^-'of  cutting  entirely  adrift  from  the  old  life,"  and  insisted 
that  the  "new  room"  should  be  erected  at  once.  He  remained  long 
enough  to  assist  his  father  in  building  and  completing  the  west  room  of 
the  old  log  cabin,  and  also  succeeded  in  putting  his  mother  into  more 
comfortable  quarters. 

PRIIVIITIVE    TOOLS 

All  the  tools  that  Abraham  and  his  father  used  in  the  construction  of 
the  cabin  were  simple  in  the  extreme — ^a  common  ax,  a  broad  ax,  a  hand- 
saw and  a  "drawer  knife."  The  doors  and  floors  were  made  of  punch- 
eons, and  the  gable  ends  of  the  structure  were  boarded  up  with  plank 
"rived"  by  Abraham's  hand  out  of  oak  timber.  The  boards  used  for  the 
roofs  were  cut  by  Thomas  Lincoln,  and  it  took  him  six  months  "to  com* 
plete  the  job."  Forty  acres  of  land  were  secured  and  Abraham  promised 
to  help  his  father  pay  for  the  farm  if  he  was  ever  able. 

The  time  had  now  come  when  Abraham  Lincoln  bade  his  father  and 
mother  a  final  farewell.  In  rrforrir.^  to  this  family  event  Mr.  Hall  said 
that  his  "Grandmarm  Lincoln"  expressed  herself  as  follows: 

"When  Uncle  Abe  went  away  to  live  we  all  jest  thought  the  hull 
world  wus  gone,  and  when  he^d  come  back  to  see  us  we'd  hug  and  kiss 
him  and  try  to  get  him  to  promise  that  he^d  never  go  ag'ln  no  more." 


SARAH    BUSH    JOHNSTON   LINCOLN. 

This  photograph  of  Abraham  Lincoln's  stepmother  was  taken  when  she 

was  ninety  years  of  age. 


THE    VACANT    CHAIR. 

The  above  family  relic  made  by  Thomas  Lincoln  for  his  wife,  Nancy 
Hanks,  tells  a  story  of  early  love  in  the  Lincoln  Home. 


SHEARS    AND    AXE    WITH    A    HISTORY. 

The  above  pictures  in  themselves  mean  but  little,  but  when  you  learn  that  this  pair  of 
shears  was  used  for  many  years  by  Grandmother  Lincoln  and  found  under  the 
floor  of  the  Cabin  when  the  building  was  taken  down,  and  that  the  axe  was 
used  by  Abraham  Lincoln  in  splitting  rails  near  Decatur,  Illi- 
nois, your  interest  will  become  more  than  ordinary. 


FAMILY   RELICS   FOUND   IN   THE   LINCOLN   HOMESTEAD. 

The  clock  purchased  in  Kentucky  was  carried  to  Indiana,  thence  to  Illinois,  wher# 

it  ever  adorned  the  old  home.      The  bureau  brought  by  the  stepmother 

from  Kentucky  caused  much  excitement  in  the  Lincoln  household. 


SECOND  NEW  HOME-^VISIONS  OF  WEALTH.  85 

It  is  said  by  Mr.  Lincoln's  biographers  that  at  this  time  he  was  the 
roughest  looking  man  that  one  could  imagine.  He  was  so  tall,  so 
angular,  so  ungainly,  and  wore  trousers  made  of  flax,  cut  tight 
at  the  ankle  and  baggy  at  the  knees — ^that  he  indeed  made  a  comical 
and  ridiculous  looking  figure.  He  was  known  to  be  exceedingly  poor, 
but  yet  he  w^as  a  welcome  guest  in  every  house  at  which  he  ever  called. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

GETTING  ACQUAINTED  WITH   HIMSELF 

GOING  back  to  the  neighborhood  from  whence  he  came  but  a  few 
months  previous,  he  was  told  that  John  D.  Johnston  and  hi^ 
uncle,  John  Hanks,  had  been  engaged  by  a  trader  named  Denton 
Offutt  to  take  a  "boatload  of  stuff"  to  New  Orleans.  They  were  indeed 
glad  to  have  their  relative  put  in  an  appearance  at  this  time,  for  he  had 
been  down  the  river  and  his  experience,  united  with  his  good  sense, 
made  him  a  very  acceptable  party.  For  a  small  consideration  they 
engaged  Abraham  Lincoln  to  pilot  the  raft  and  help  them  dispose  of 

the  cargo. 

ABRAHAM    BECOMES    A    CLERK 

When  the  men  returned  and  reported  an  unusually  good  sale  Mr. 
Offutt  realized  that  the  management  of  the  entire  trip  and  its  success- 
ful issue  was  the  result  of  the  young  man's  good  judgment.  The  trader 
offered  him  a  position  in  his  country  store.  Abraham  Lincoln  was  more 
than  pleased  and  eagerly  accepted  the  offer.  Mr.  Offutt  soon  became 
impressed  with  the  honesty  and  capacity  of  his  new  clerk  and  intrusted 
him  with  the  entire  business  of  his  store,  and  his  mill  as  well. 

It  was  during  his  term  of  service  with  Mr.  Offutt  at  New  Salem,  III., 
that  many  of  Abraham  Lincoln's  traits  of  character  were  thoroughly 
tested.  Upon  one  occasion  he  discovered  that  he  had  overcharged  a 
customer,  and  in  order  to  rectify  his  mistake  and  return  the  money  he 
was  obliged  to  walk  several  miles,  but  that  fact  did  not  alter  his  pur- 
pose, and  he  tramped  the  entire  way  in  order  to  refund  the  money. 

WHIPPING    THE    BULLY 

He  was  living  in  a  community  containing  some  coarse  and  vulgar 
men  who  had  no  respect  for  women;  Abraham  Lincoln  had  upon  several 
occasions  reproved  some  of  these  roughs,  and  the  bully  of  the  town  un- 

86 


GETTING  ACQUAINTED  WITH  HIMSELF,  87 

dertook  to  pick  a  quarrel  with  him.  Sauntering  into  the  store,  and  in  the 
presence  of  several  women,  the  rude  fellow  began  a  tirade  of  profane 
and  obscene  language.  Leaning  over  the  counter  and  speaking  in  a 
low  tone  Mr.  Lincoln  politely  requested  the  young  man  to  cease  using 
such  words.  The  bully  said  in  reply  "that  he'd  like  to  see  the  man  that 
could  stop  him  from  saying  anything  that  he  chose  to  say,''  and  still 
persisted  in  insulting  the  customers.  After  the  departure  of  the  women 
the  bully  began  to  abuse  Mr.  Lincoln,  and  dared  him  to  come  out  and 
fight.  Striving  to  calm  the  young  man's  anger  by  keeping  perfectly 
cool  Abraham  Lincoln  was  at  last  obliged  to  retaliate.  Patience  had 
ceased  to  be  a  virtue,  and,  remarking  to  the  crowd  that  had  gathered 
about,  "Well,  if  he  must  be  whipped,  I  suppose  I  can  do  it  as  well  as 
any  other  man."  Mr.  Lincoln  without  further  parley  proceeded  to  give 
him  a  sound  thrashing,  and  for  further  punishment  rubbed  his  face 
and  eyes  with  a  sharp  and  stinging  weed,  until  the  bully  fairly  roared 
with  pain  and  anger. 

LINCOLN    MASTERS    GRAMMAR 

It  was  while  young  Lincoln  was  engaged  in  the  duties  of  "store  life" 
that  he  commenced  the  study  of  English  grammar.  He  could  not, 
however,  obtain  a  text-book  in  the  neighborhood,  but,  hearing  that  a 
friend  of  his,  Mr.  L.  M.  Green,  a  lawyer,  living  eight  miles  distant, 
possessed  a  grammar,  he  walked  to  his  friend's  home  and  succeeded  ini 
borrowing  the  book,  which  he  studied  diligently  at  every  spare  moment, 
and  whenever  his  friend  would  come  to  New  Salem  Lincoln  would  take 
him  aside  and  ask  him  to  explain  some  of  the  most  obscure  and  difficult 
parts.  At  last  the  book  was  completed  and  the  young  man  observed 
that  "if  grammar  was  a  science  he  reckoned  he  could  master  others." 
It  was  during  this  period  of  his  life  that  Abraham  Lincoln  became 
interested  in  debate,  and  many  of  the  "sparring  matches"  as  they  were 
called  by  the  young  men  of  that  section,  were  held  in  Mr.  Offutt's  store. 
It  was  here  that  Abraham  Lincoln  made  his  first  political  speech,  and 
its  delivery  gave  evidence  of  his  powers  of  oratory.  At  the  end  of  the 
year,  business  and  trade  having  been  so  slack,  Mr.  Offutt  was  obliged 
to  close  the  store  and  shut  down  the  mill,  and  in  consequence  Abraham 


88  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

Lincoln  was  out  of  employment.  Though  he  had  received  small  wages 
and  performed  constant  service  yet  the  year's  hard  experience  had  not 
been  lost.  He  had  made  new  and  valuable  acquaintances,  had  read 
many  books,  had  won  a  host  of  friends,  and  had  established  a  name  that 
was  more  valuable  than  all  the  rest.  Everywhere  and  by  everybody  he 
was  called  "Honest  Abe."  This  reputation  and  name  won  for  him 
honor,  respect,  and  power  then,  as  it  afterward  did  throughout  his 
entire  career. 

He  was  a  pacificator,  an  arbitrator,  everybody's  friend,  and  an 
authority.  He  was  called  the  homeliest  young  man,  but  at  the  same 
time  the  kindest,  the  gentlest,  the  strongest  and  the  best  natured  fellow 
in  all  the  country  about. 

LINCOLN    GOES    TO    WAR 

'Abraham  Lincoln,  now  being  out  of  business,  concluded  to  enlist  in 
what  wa?-  known  as  the  Black  Hawk  War.  Many  of  the  recruits  were 
from  New  Salem  and  the  country  about  and  were  personal  friends  of 
Mr,  Lincoln.  The  method  of  selecting  army  ofiScers  in  those  days  was 
rather  unique.  The  candidates  were  placed  opposite  each  other  and 
the  soldiers  were  told  to  make  their  preference.  Abraham  Lincoln  was 
the  successful  candidate,  and  when  those  who  had  just  chosen  his 
opponent  changed  their  minds  and  also  came  over  to  Lincoln's  side  he 
could  scarcely  repress  his  delight.  It  is  said  that  Mr.  Lincoln  subse- 
quently confessed  that  no  other  success  of  his  life  gave  him  the  genuine 
pleasure  that  this  election  did.  The  Black  Hawk  War  was  not  a  very 
remarkable  affair  and  Mr.  Lincoln  never  spoke  of  it  in  public  other 
than  as  an  interesting  episode  in  his  life.  But  no  doubt  he  must  have 
related  some  of  his  experiences  to  his  relatives,  for  Mr.  Hall  said  that 
when  "v/e  children  ast  grandpap  if  Uncle  Abe  wus  allers  good  natured 
he  said,  yes,  he  never  did  get  mad  or  out  of  humor,  ^cept  onct  when  he 
wus  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  a  right  smart  feller  kept  imposin'  upon 
him  and  pickin'  at  him  till  he  said,  ^If  you  don't  dry  up,  I'll  kick  you  into 
the  river.^  But  the  feller  didn't  stop  his  foolin'  and  Abe  done  jest  what 
he  said  he  w^ould  and  then  walked  off  as  cool  as  could  be." 


GETTING  ACQUAINTED  WITH  HIMSELF.  89 

TALKING    ABOUT    UNCLE    ABE 

At  this  point  in  Mr.  HalFs  conversation,  an  old  acquaintance  of  the 
Lincoln  family  called  to  make  some  inquiries  concerning  the  old  home- 
stead, and  catching  the  final  words  of  Mr.  HalPs  recital  asked  if  he  was 
talking  about  Uncle  Abe, 

An  answer  in  the  affirmative  elicited  further  inquiry,  and  when  the 
caller  understood  that  I  was  trying  to  learn  something  concerning  Mr. 
Llncoln^s  career  as  a  soldier  and  officer  during  the  Black  Hawk  War,  he 
volunteered  to  bring  me  a  book  which  probably  contained  the  informa- 
tion I  desired. 

As  good  as  his  word,  the  farmer  came  the  next  day,  bringing  the 
promised  book,  which  contained  tjie  following  humorous  reference 
made  by  Mr.  Lincoln  himself  to  his  military  career. 

A    MILITARY    HERO 

It  was  while  Mr.  Lincoln  was  a  representative  in  Congress  that  the 
friends  of  General  Lewis  Cass,  when  that  gentleman  was  a  candidate 
for  the  Presidency,  endeavored  to  endow  him  with  a  military  reputation. 
This  sort  of  pretension  was  so  obnoxious  to  Mr.  Lincoln  that  he  used  It 
as  an  instrument  of  ridicule,  and  in  a  sarcastic  and  irresistibly  ludicrous 
allusion,  said: 

"By  the  way,  Mr.  Speaker,  do  you  know  that  I  am  a  military  hero? 
Yes,  sir;  in  the  days  of  the  Black  Hawk  War  I  fought,  bled  and  came 
aw^ay.  Speaking  of  General  Cass's  career  rerainds  me  of  my  own.  I 
was  not  at  Stillman's  defeat,  but  I  was  about  as  near  it  as  Cass  to  HulPs 
surrender;  and,  like  him,  I  saw  the  place  very  soon  afterwards. 

DID    NOT    BREAK    HIS    SWORD 

"It  is  quite  certain  I  did  not  break  my  sword,  for  I  had  none  to  break; 
but  I  bent  my  musket  pretty  badly  on  one  occasion. 

"If  General  Cass  went  in  advance  of  me  picking  whortleberries,  I 
guess  I  surpassed  him  in  charges  upon  the  wild  onions.  If  he  saw  any 
live,  fighting  Indians,  it  was  more  than  I  did,  but  I  had  a  good  many 


90  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

bloody  struggles  with  the  mosquitoes;  and  although  I  never  fainted 
from  loss  of  blood,  I  can  truly  say  I  was  often  hungry." 

In  after  years,  when  Abraham  Lincoln  was  a  candidate  for  the 
presidency,  some  of  his  campaign  biographers  undertook  to  make  a 
little  political  thunder  for  him  out  of  his  connection  with  the  Black 
Hawk  War,  but  he  expressed  himself  as  being  quite  disgusted  wA^h 
such  pretense. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

LINCOLN'S  FIRST  CANDIDACY 

THE  soldiers  engaged  in  the  Black  Hawk  War  from  Sangamon 
County  arrived  home  just  ten  days  before  election,  and  Abraham 
Lincoln  had  made  himself  such  a  favorite  that  his  comrades 
requested  him  to  allow  his  name  to  be  placed  among  the  candidates 
for  the  Legislature.  Could  anyone  have  been  more  surprised  than  was 
this  obscure  and  humble  young  man  when  such  honor  and  recognition 
were  thrust  upon  him?  His  nomination  was  secured,  and  in  accepting 
it  Lincoln  made  a  few  quaint  and  brief  remarks,  such  as  ever  after 
characterized  his  speech.  He  assured  his  friends  that  if  elected  he 
would  be  thankful  to  them  and  should  always  do  his  duty,  but  if  not 
elected  it  w^ould  be  just  the  same. 

LINCOLN'S    DEFEAT 

Mr.  Lincoln  received  a  large  vote — his  friends  worked  for  him,  his 
soldier  comrades  voted  for  him,  but  the  State  of  Illinois  was  too  gen- 
erally Democratic,  and  he  was  therefore  defeated.  Can  anyone  doubt 
that  Abraham  Lincoln  was  not  a  disappointed  man?  The  first  excite- 
ment over  he  looked  about  and  found  himself  a  stranded  man,  with  no 
occupation,  trade  or  profession.  He  now  began  to  think  seriously  of 
learning  the  blacksmith's  trade.  Notwithstanding  he  had  made  up  his 
mind  to  pursue  this  course  yet  he  was  so  anxious  and  ambitious  to  live 
in  a  more  elevated  sphere  of  thought  and  action  that  he  was  ready  to 
catch  at  any  straw  as  a  drowning  man  might,  and  when  an  immediate 
opportunity  offered  itself  he  became  a  partner  in  a  dry  goods  firm.  His 
associate,  however,  proved  a  worthless,  dissipated  man  and  soon 
wrecked  the  entire  business.  The  venture  was  both  unfortunate  and 
valuable.  Though  it  left  Mr.  Lincoln  burdened  with  debt,  yet  he  was 
rich  in  experience. 

91 


92  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

Wherever  he  went  or  whatever  he  undertook  he  made  friends.  One 
of  his  biographers  has  said:  "Lincoln  had  nothing,  only  plenty  of 
friends,"  and  when  his  financial  trouble  overtook  him  some  of  his  ad- 
mirers asked  for  his  appointment  as  postmaster.  He  was  delighted 
with  the  office.  It  gave  him  a  chance  to  read  every  newspaper  that 
went  through  the  postofQce,  and  now  for  the  first  time  in  his  life  he 
had  "a  constant  feast  of  reading."  The  business  of  the  office  was  very 
insignificant  and  he  did  not  feel  as  if  he  was  morally  compelled  to 
spend  his  entire  time  at  the  office.  The  postoffice  he  carried  with  him, 
and  Uncle  Sam's  servant  took  off  his  hat,  looked  over  the  mail  and  dis- 
tributed it  wherever  the  public  found  himo  He  kept  the  position  of 
postmaster  until  the  mail  delivery  was  removed  to  Petersburgh. 

ABE    LINCOLN'S    HONESTY 

One  of  the  most  beautiful  exhibitions  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  honesty  oc- 
curred in  connection  with  the  settlement  of  his  accounts  with  the  post- 
office  department  several  years  afterwards. 

It  was  after  he  had  become  a  lawyer,  and  at  a  period  in  his  life 
when  he  was  distressed  financially.  He  had  but  just  acquired  his  law 
education  under  unusually  adverse  circumstances.  He  was  perplexed 
and  worried  and  so  exceedingly  poor  that  many  another  man  would 
have  yielded  to  temptation  and  appropriated,  if  only  as  a  loan,  the 
money  that  he  had  in  his  possession.  But  it  was  safe  with  Abraham 
Lincoln,  though  he  had  starved. 

It  was  one  day  after  he  had  formed  a  law  partnership  with  Major 
Stuart,  that  the  agent  of  the  postoffice  department  entered  and  inquired 
if  Abraham  Lincoln  was  in.  Mr.  Lincoln  answered  in  the  affirmative, 
and  the  agent  told  him  that  he  had  called  to  collect  the  balance  due  the 
department  since  the  New  Salem  postoffice  had  been  discontinued. 

THE    OLD    TrN    BOX 

Mr,  Lincoln  seemed  annoyed,  and  a  friend  who  was  present  offered 
to  loan  him  the  required  amount.  Making  no  reply  Mr.  Lincoln  rose 
and  pulled  out  from  under  a  pile  of  papers  a  small  tin  box.  Turning 
around  he  faced  the  agent  and  asked  him  what  the  amount  was.    The 


LINCOLN'S  FIRST  CANDIDACY.  93 

sum  was  named.  Mr.  Lincoln  took  from  the  box  a  package,  unfastened 
the  wrapping,  and  counted  out  the  exact  amount,  which  was  a  little 
more  than  seventeen  dollars. 

After  the  agent  left  the  room  Abraham  Lincoln  quietly  remarked 
that  he  "never  used  any  man's  money  but  his  own."  Although  the 
money  had  been  in  his  possession  for  several  years,  and  he  had  often 
been  hungry  for  food,  he  had  never  used  one  cent  of  it,  even  for  a 
temporary  purpose.  It  was  this  rigid  honesty  that  made  Mr.  Lincoln 
so  responsible  and  trustworthy.  This  quality  of  honesty  in  Mr.  Lincoln's 
character  was  his  strongest  fortification,  and  through  all  the  years  of 
his  career,  in  which  there  were  many  epochs  of  absolute  penury,  he  did 
not  swerve  one  iota  from  the  straight  and  narrow  path. 

In  these  days  of  money-getting  and  money-keeping,  it  is  well  for  the 
young  lad  to  pause  and  consider  this  lesson.  The  reputation  that  Mr. 
Lincoln  won  as  Honest  Abe  was  more  priceless  than  money  or  position, 
and  he  had  honestly  gained  the  name  by  actual  proof  over  and  over 
again.  Because  of  this  very  characteristic,  thus  it  was  that  an  anxious 
nation  trusted  him  with  its  welfare,  and  knew  that  he  would  not  betray 
his  trust. 

The  postoffice  having  "winked  out,"  as  Mr.  Lincoln  expressed  it,  he 
was  now  ready  for  something  else  and  it  came  to  him  from  an  unexpected 
quarter.  The  surveyor  of  Sangamon  County  needed  an  assistant,  and 
though  he  found  Mr.  Lincoln  entirely  ignorant  of  the  science  of  sur- 
veying, yet  his  employer  loaned  him  a  text-book  and  assigned  him 
quite  a  large  territor5\ 

LINCOLN    THE    SURVEYOR 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  quite  satisfied  with  the  terms,  because  his  employ- 
ment furnished  him  with  sufficient  means  to  earn  his  daily  living  and 
also  procure  some  books.  During  his  twelve  months'  engagement  he 
was  a  close  student  and  constant  reader,  and  he  performed  his  work 
with  such  accuracy  that  the  surveys  that  he  made  were  never  disputed. 
Lincoln  had  not  the  least  knowledge  of  surveying,  and  now  having  ac- 
cepted the  position  he  was  obliged  to  acquire  the  science  in  the  shortest 


94  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

|K>ssible  time,  and  he  did.  He  was  a  close  student,  and  after  a  brief 
Btiidy  procured  a  compass  and  chain  and  started  boldly  in  at  the  work. 
His  first  attempt  ended  in  discouraging  and  disastrous  results,  for 
Ms  chain  and  compass  were  attached,  to  pay  a  debt  for  which  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  surety.  The  implements  were,  however,  bought  by  a  friend, 
who  immediately  returned  them  to  the  young  man,  and  bade  him  fear 
no  more  trouble. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

MR-  LINCOLN'S  POLITICAL  CAREER 

MB.  LINCOLN  was  still  miserably  poor,  still  a  humble  man- 
humble  in  condition  but  not  in  spirit.  There  is  no  doubt  but 
even  at  this  time  he  had  begun  to  think  of  a  political  life.  He 
was  now  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  history  of  the  politicians  and 
statesmen  of  his  country.  He  was  already  a  marked  and  peculiar  man. 
People  were  talking  about  him.  His  studious  habits,  his  greed  for 
information,  his  power  in  story-telling,  his  quaint,  odd  ways,  and  his 
uncouth  appearance  were  attracting  the  attention  of  all  classes. 
Wherever  he  appeared  he  was  the  center  of  attraction.  His  duties  a» 
surveyor  had  brought  him  in  touch  with  the  people  of  other  localities 
and  he  had  already  made  something  of  a  record  as  a  "stump  speaker.'^ 
He  made  no  pretension  to  win  favor;  he  was  the  poorest  and  plainest 
man  in  all  the  country  about,  but  yet  again  in  1834  he  became  a  candi- 
date for  the  Legislature  and  was  elected  by  the  highest  vote  cast  for 
any  candidate.  He  was  elected  because  he  had  made  no  enemies, 
because  people  were  glad  to  see  him  rise,  and  because  he  was  honest, 
was  truthful,  was  kind  and  unselfish. 

LINCOLN    BEGINS    TO    STUDY    LAW 

During  the  Black  Hawk  War  Mr.  Lincoln  had  met  Major  John 
T.  Stuart,  a  lawyer  of  Springfield,  who  then  told  Abraham  Lin- 
coln that  if  he  could  ever  be  of  service  to  him  to  let  him  know.  At 
the  close  of  the  canvass  which  resulted  in  his  election  Mr.  Lincoln  walked 
to  Springfield,  borrowed  some  books  from  his  friend  and  took  them 
back  to  New  Salem.  It  was  at  this  time  that  Mr.  Lincoln  began  the 
study  of  law.  He  itudied  as  diligently  and  as  thoroughly  as  he  had 
read.  He  was  so  absorbed  in  his  new  study  that  he  could  think  of 
nothing  else,  until  he  was  forced  to  stop  for  absolute  lack  of  food.  A 
surveying  tour  would  bring  him  some  money,  and  then  he  would  ievote 

95 


96  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

himself  again  to  his  books,  and  so  the  days  passed  until  the  convening 
of  the  Legislature,  when  he  dropped  his  books,  hung  his  satchel  upon 
a  stick,  slung  it  across  his  shoulder  and  on  foot,  trudged  a  hundred 
miles  to  Vandalia,  then  the  capital  of  the  State  of  Illinois. 

THE    YOUNGEST    MAN    IN    THE    LEGISLATURE 

During  this  session  Mr.  Lincoln  learned  much  but  talked  very  little, 
and  in  referring  to  that  period  of  his  life  Mr.  Lincoln  said:  "By  so 
doing  I  made  no  mistakes  to  be  rectified  at  another  session."  Though 
the  youngest  man  in  the  Legislature,  he  was  always  in  his  place,  and 
faithful  to  all  duties  imposed  upon  him.  When  the  session  closed  he 
walked  home  as  he  came,  and  resumed  the  study  of  law,  but  took  up 
surveying  again  as  a  means  of  livelihood. 

Again  in  1836  he  was  honored  by  the  people  of  his  district.  The 
canvass  was  an  unusually  exciting  one,  but,  as  before,  he  was  elected 
by  a  good  majority.  It  was  during  this  campaign  that  Mr.  Lincoln 
made  an  unusually  brilliant  speech.  As  he  grew  inspired  with  his 
subject,  the  tall,  awkward,  homely  man  became  majestic  in  his  bearing. 
His  face  was  illumined  with  a  radiance  unseen  before  and  his  dreamy 
eyes  were  filled  with  the  light  of  inspiration.  From  that  day  to  the 
day  of  his  death,  he  was  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  powerful  orators 
in  the  county.  Among  those  who  composed  the  members  of  the  House 
that  session  many  of  them  became  distinguished  men,  and  it  was  during 
this  term  of  the  Legislature  that  Mr.  Lincoln  associated  with  and  was 
often  pitted  against  the  brightest  men  of  his  State. 

CHANGING    THE    CAPITAL 

Although  but  twenty-seven  years  old  he  was  pushed  to  the  front  and 
became  an  important  factor  in  the  work  of  the  House.  It  was  during 
this  session  that  through  his  immediate  and  unceasing  efforts  the  cap- 
ital of  Illinois  was  changed  from  Vandalia  to  Springfield.  Thus,  with 
no  early  education  or  culture  or  training,  he  had  achieved  what  the  best 
educated  and  most  favored  would  have  been  proud  to  do. 

This  session  of  the  Legislature  was  notable  for  its  connection  with 
the  beginning  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  anti-slavery  history. 


MR.  LINCOLN'S  POLITICAL  CAREER.  97 

The  agitation  of  the  slave  question  was  just  beginning  to  create 
great  uneasiness  among  the  people,  both  at  the  North  and  the  South.  The 
slaveholders  were  as  agitated  as  the  politician,  and  the  subject  was 
broached  in  this  session  of  the  Illinois  Legislature,  A  resolution  in 
behalf  of  slavery  was  offered,  and  an  attempt  was  made  to  stigmatize 
all  who  refused  to  endorse  the  same.  Only  two  men  in  the  house, 
Abraham  Lincoln  and  Dan  Stone,  both  from  Sangamon  County,  had 
the  manliness  to  refuse  to  vote  for  the  "offensive  resolution."  It  was 
something  for  these  two  men  to  stand  out  and  declare  their  principles 
against  the  entire  House. 

This  act  was  the  beginning  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  anti-slavery  record. 
This  little  protest  was  the  platform  on  which  he  stood  and  fought  out 
the  great  battle  whose  "trophies  were  four  million  freemen"  and  a 
redeemed  nation. 

MEETING  STEPHEN  A.  DOUGLAS 

It  was  also  at  this  session  that  Mr.  Lincoln  met  Stephen  A.  Douglas, 
who  was  then  only  twenty-three  years  old  and  the  youngest  man  in 
the  House.  These  two  young  men  had  now  set  out  on  their  important 
careers,  one  to  disappointment  and  a  grave  of  unsatisfied  hopes  and 
baffled  ambitions,  the  other  to  the  realization  of  his  highest  dreams  of 
achievement  and  renown,  and  a  martyrdom  that  crowns  his  memory 
with  an  undying  glory. 

The  young  solon  had  made  no  money,  and  was  still  about  as  poor 
as  they  make  them.  His  clothes  were  shabby  and  thin,  and  the  weather 
was  raw  and  cold. 

It  is  said  by  one  of  Mr.  Lincoln^s  biographers  that  he  complained 
to  a  friend,  who  was  alsoi  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  of  being  cold  and 
chilly. 

An  associate  said:  "Ws  no  wonder,  Mr.  Lincoln,  that  you  are  cold; 
there  is  so  much  of  you  on  the  ground."  None  of  the  party  appreciated 
this  homely  joke  at  the  expense  of  his  big  feet  more  thoroughly  than 
did  Abraham  Lincoln  himselt 


98  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

BEGINS    THE    PRACTICE    CF    LAW 

The  time  Iiad  come  for  Mr.  Lincoln  to  leave  his  old  home  and  his  old 
associates.  The  natural  ability  of  the  man  demanded  his  removal  to 
larger  territory  and  better  environment;  the  future  course  of  events 
commanded  him  to  shake  off  the  limitations  and  seek  stronger  action 
and  greater  achievement. 

Springfield,  the  capital  of  the  State,  v^as  the  most  enticing  point, 
and  Mr.  Lincoln  argued  that  here  was  the  proper  place  to  begin  the 
practice  of  the  law  and  to  secure  any  further  political  recognition  that 
he  might  desire,  for  Mr.  Lincoln  was  a  man  of  political  ambition. 

He  had  already  had  just  enough  of  the  excitement  and  fascination 
of  a  political  career  to  whet  his  desire  to  further  taste;  just  enough 
political  recognition  to  incite  him  to  further  attainment. 

Abraham  Lincoln  turned  his  back  upon  New  Salem  with  many 
regrets,  for  his  friends  had  aided  him  when  he  needed  aid;  here  his 
friends  had  appreciated  him  and  raised  him  to  an  elevation,  though 
slight  and  unimportant  compared  to  the  future  heights  and  power  he 
was  destined  to  attain. 

He  left  behind  all  the  old  stepping-stones  by  which  he  had  bridged 
the  time  between  now  and  then,  and  ascended  to  homely  prominence.  The 
old  store,  the  wrestling  matches,  the  foot  races,  the  lounging  places,  the 
insignificant  postoffice — these  were  ever  pleasant  scenes  to  memory  dear. 
The  few  cabin  homes  were  dearer  still;  the  cabin  homes  in  which  kindly 
women  dwelt,  who,  with  womanly  instincts,  detected  the  manliness  of 
character,  and  gave  to  the  poor  young  man  a  home,  "just  for  his  com- 
pany," as  they  said. 

It  was  in  the  spring  of  1837  that  Mr.  Lincoln  went  to  his  new  home, 
and  it  was  with  many  misgivings  that  he  took  up  his  abode  there. 

A    FRIEND    IN    NEED 

Silthougb  he  had  no  money,  was  i>oorly  dressed  and  most  ungainly 
In  appearance,  yet  he  had  attracted  the  attention  and  interest  of  the 
Hon,  William  Butler,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Springfield,  who  invited 
tihn  to  become  a  member  of  his  household.    This  privilege  was  of  great 


MR,  LINCOLN'S  POLITICAL  CAREER,  99 

benefit  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  for  he  was  now  thrown  into  the  companionship 
of  educated  men  and  refined  women. 

Mr.  Lincoln's  law  practice  was  not  lucrative,  nor  particularly  agree- 
able. He  as  other  young  lawyers  had  to  engage  in  considerable  prac- 
tice that  brought  poor  returns,  hard  labor  and  small  fees.  It  was  not  a 
smooth  or  flowery  path  that  he  had  chosen. 

THE    CIRCUIT    RIDER 

The  man  who  practiced  law  in  those  days  in  Illinois  "rode  the  cir- 
cuit"— ^that  is,  the  lawyers  were  obliged  to  follow  the  judges  about  from 
county  to  county,  some  on  horseback  and  some  in  buggies.  Mr.  Lin- 
coln's outfit  was  very  primitive  and  homely  and  provoked  much  ridicule 
from  the  well-to-do  lawyers.  The  long  journeys  from  county  seat  to 
county  seat,  the  stopping  at  the  settlers'  home«  to  eat  or  sleep  or  feed 
his  horse,  and  his  evenings  at  the  country  taverns,  gave  Mr.  Lincoln  a 
wide  and  extensive  acquaintance.  It  was  during  these  trips  that  many 
incidents  occurred  which  demonstrated  his  kindness  of  heart  and  his 
entirely  unselfish  purpose.  He  would  often  stop  and  fall  far  behind 
his  companions  in  order  to  rescue  some  animal  which  had  »unk  into 
the  mire  and  was  struggling  to  free  itself,  or  he  would  climb  a  tree 
and  put  back  into  its  nest  the  little  fledgling  that  had  fallen  to  the 
ground,  thus  quieting  the  shrill  cry  of  the  distressed  mother  bird. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

A  THRILLING   NIGHT  AT  THE  OLD   LOG  CABIN 

THE  sixth  day  of  our  sojourn  had  begun.  Time  had  been  rather 
indolent  in  passing  and  we  had  hoped  for  a  change,  no  matter 
how  or  what.  The  coming  to-morrow  was  the  Sabbath  day,  we 
dreaded  its  approach,  anticipating  an  usually  dull  time,  and  there- 
fore I  determined  to  do  something  desperate  in  order  to  relieve  our 
minds  of  the  terrible  monotony  and  dreary,  every-day  humdrum  exist- 
ence. A  startling  proposition  was  made  to  my  young  friend.  She  was 
aghast  and  sought  to  persuade  me  that  the  experiment  would  be  dan- 
gerous. I  did  not  share  her  apprehension  and  told  her  that  I  had  con- 
cluded to  dare  the  danger. 

We  had  been  at  the  log  cabin  every  day,  had  viewed  it  from  the  old 
stage  road,  had  seen  it  from  the  top  of  the  knoll,  had  sat  upon  the  rotten 
old  doorsteps,  had  passed  in  and  out  and  had  climbed  into  the  loft,  but 
we  had  not  spent  the  night  at  the  wonderful  old  house. 

A    GAME    OF    CARDS 

The  evening  of  the  sixth  day  dwelt  with  us  and  an  announcement 
was  made  that  really  startled  Uncle  John  and  the  boys.  My  host 
gravely  shook  his  head  and  Little  Joe  said,  "You  dasen't."  This  re- 
mark decided  the  affair  and  I  informed  Mr.  Hall  that  Miss  Coleman 
and  myself  would  pass  the  night  at  the  "Old  Log  Cabin."  We  took 
our  hammocks,  pillows  and  books,  and,  escorted  by  the  boys,  went  down 
to  the  cabin.  We  chatted,  told  stories,  and  my  friend  and  I  made 
believe  we  were  happy.  Darkness  descended,  we  filed  into  the  cabin, 
lighted  a  "tallow  dip,"  rolled  in  some  stones,  placed  upon  them  some 
rough  boards  for  seats,  hung  up  our  hammocks,  and  proceeded  to  tell 
more  stories.  Finally  the  boys  were  getting  restless,  and,  consulting 
our  watches,  we  discovered  that  it  was  late,  quite  eleven  o'clock.    The 

100 


'A   THRILLING  NIGHT.  lOl 

boys  were  too  tired  and  sleepy  to  stay  longer.  We  promised  more 
stories  but  that  attraction  had  worn  out,  and  we  coaxed  in  vain  until 
Abe  slyly  drew  from  his  pocket  a  pack  of  soiled  cards.  Putting  them 
down  on  the  boards  he  said :  "I'll  stay  and  play  ye  a  game  of  ^seven-up' 
if  yere  won't  tell  paw."  I  responded  to  his  proposition  with  alacrity, 
and,  passing  the  agreement  around,  the  entire  company  acquiesced. 

A    CURIOUS    PICTURE 

A  picture  was  created  that  never  can  be  effaced.  The  west  room  of 
the  old  cabin  was  dimly  lighted,  but  the  direct  rays  of  the  candle  fell 
upon  the  faces  of  the  party.  What  a  contrast,  a  woman  of  mature 
years,  bearing  the  impress  of  education  and  refinement,  a  young  g}rl 
fashionabl}^  attired,  three  rough,  uncouth  lads,  all  in  their  shirtsleeves, 
one  bareheaded,  the  other  two  wearing  caps;  one  an  old  fur  covering, 
the  other  a  torn  and  faded  sombrero. 

The  uncanny  hour  was  fast  approaching  and  the  game  was  growing 
exciting,  when  a  slight  tap  on  the  window-pane  brought  a  shriek  from 
my  young  companion,  and  little  Joe  declared  he  "seed  a  face  and  it 
looked  jest  like  the  pictur^  of  Uncle  Abe." 

The  young  gentlemen  decided  that  they  must  be  going  and  advised 
us  to  give  up  our  valuables  into  their  safe  keeping.  So  watches  and 
pocketbooks  were  handed  over  to  the  boys  and  my  companion  and  I 
were  left  with  the  night  and  the  solitude. 

Miss  Coleman  begged  me  to  abandon  the  idea  of  remaining  alone 
at  the  cabin  and  I  frankly  admit  that  I  was  sorely  tempted  to  call  the 
boys  back,  abandon  the  project  and  ask  them  to  help  us  "tote^'  the 
bedroom  paraphernalia  up  the  hill  to  the  little  cottage.  My  courage 
received  a  fresh  impetus  however  and  I  cast  out  the  cowardly  thought. 
Announcing  my  final  decision  I  begged  Miss  Coleman  to  control  her 
nervous  dread  and  make  of  herself  a  more  cheerful  companion.  She 
could  not  conquer  her  distress,  and,  acquiescing  to  her  pleadings,  I 
made  myself  very  uncomfortable  by  occupying  with  her  the  same  ham* 
mock. 


102  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN 

THE    FRIGHT 

We  selected  the  one  that  had  been  hung  in  the  corner  of  the  west 
room,  and  "right  where  Uncle  Abe  allers  slept  when  he  came  back  to 
visit  the  relations."  Nestling  close  to  each  other  we  awaited  develop- 
ments. How  long  we  suffered,  it  seemed  an  eternity,  and  when  a  rat 
ambled  slowly  across  the  cabin  floor  we  were  too  paralyzed  to  even 
scream.  At  last  the  horror  passed,  the  morning  dawned.  We  looked 
into  each  other's  haggard  faces,  laughed  hysterically  and  made  a  sol- 
emn compact  that  we  would  never  again  indulge  in  so  foolish  an  under- 
taking. 

Our  limbs  were  cramped,  rigid,  sore,  and  we  could  scarcely  drag 
ourselves  about.  Folding  up  our  outfit  we  "silently  stole  away."  The 
day  was  awakening,  and  the  morning  sun,  stretching  out  his  long,  red, 
fervid  rays,  bathed  the  world  in  a  resplendent  light. 

Miss  Coleman  and  I,  weary  and  nervous,  walked  slowly  through  the 
dewy  grass,  and  as  we  neared  the  cottage  discovered  the  feathered  tribe 
excited  and  turbulent.  The  chanticleer  filled  the  air  with  his  loud  and 
warning  call,  the  hens  were  rushing  about,  keeping  up  an  incessant 
cackling,  the  ducks  waddled  to  and  fro,  while  their  incessant  quack, 
quack  told  us  that  they  too  were  agitated.  The  geese  stretched  out  their 
necks,  and,  hissing  in  a  defiant  manner,  demanded  the  cause  of  so  much 
excitement,  the  watchdog  came  bounding  fi'om  the  rear  of  the  cottage, 
leaped  the  fence,  and  in  a  thoroughly  military  fashion  guarded  the 
entrance. 

THE    STRANGER^S    ARRIVAL 

What  a  wonderful  scene  revealed  itself  as  we  ascended  the  hill  and 
climbed  the  rail  fence.  A  fine  turnout,  to  which  was  harnessed  a  pair 
of  prancing  steeds,  stood  at  the  front  gate  and  a  stranger  was  alighting. 
We  now  understood  why  the  "dumb  brutes"  had  displayed  so  much 
excitement  and  we  too  became  equally  aroused  and  congratulated  our- 
selves that  an  adventure  was  in  store  for  us.  Expecting  a  tale  of  woe 
from  a  lost  and  benighted  traveler  we  were  impatient  to  have  the 
mystery  unravelled.    The  boys  were  up  and  dressed  and  out  of  the  house 


A   THRILLING  NIGHT,  103 

as  soon  as  possible,  and  upon  demanding  from  the  stranger  the  cause 
of  his  early  call  he  responded  by  handing  ^^Squire"  two  letters.  The 
boy  looked  at  them  dubiously,  then  observing  Miss  Coleman  and  myself, 
handed  me  the  missives.  One  was  addressed  to  Mr.  Hall,  the  other  to 
myself.  How  our  hearts  throbbed,  and  we  anticipated  something,  we 
hardly  knew  what,.  The  envelopes  were  hastily  opened  and — such  a 
disappointment.    Simply  letters  of  introduction  and  recommendation. 

THE    CUSTODIAN 

The  "cabin"  had  now  become  an  object  of  interest  to  the  country 
people,  and  as  many  sightseers  were  beginning  to  visit  it  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Lincoln  Log  Cabin  Association  had  concluded  to  send  out 
from  Chicago  a  custodian  to  be  put  in  charge  of  the  cabin,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  protecting  and  preserving  the  valuable  old  homestead  from 
vandalism,  and  the  custodian  had  been  instructed  to  give  the  cabin  con- 
stant attention,  both  night  and  day. 

Though  the  event  turned  out  to  be  rather  a  tame  affair,  yet  the  ar- 
rival of  the  stranger  was  a  great  event,  and  we  welcomed  him  right 
royally. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

A  MEMORABLE  SUNDAY 

BREAKFAST  was  served  on  short  notice,  and  after  the  "keen  de- 
mands'' of  appetite  had  been  satisfied,  the  guard  was  escorted 
to  the  "old  log  cabin"  by  the  entire  household.  Each  one  was 
eager  to  tell  what  he  knew,  or  what  he  had  heard,  or  was  anxious  to 
point  out  some  favorite  spot  and  to  explain  to  him  where  and  when. 
Abraham  Lincoln  occupied  the  famous  old  house.  This  wonderful  Sun- 
day will  ever  remain  a  pleasant  memory. 

A    COMPANY    OF    SIGHT-SEERS 

In  pointing  out  and  describing  the  cabin  and  its  particular  belong- 
ings we  became  so  engrossed  in  entertaining  our  new  acquaintance  that 
the  approach  of  other  and  stranger  sightseers  was  unnoticed,  until  the 
sound  of  rapidly  moving  vehicles  aroused  our  attention.  Coming  down 
the  road  we  saw  three  or  four  wagons  containing  a  number  of  people, 
who  were  shouting  at  us.  The  neighbors  and  country  folk  from  far  and 
near,  many  of  them  acquaintances  of  the  Lincolns,  were  flocking  to 
look  at  and  comment  upon  the  old  log  cabin.  It  told  its  own  story,  for 
its  dilapidated  condition,  its  poor  and  homely  construction,  were  object 
lessons  that  even  the  youngest  sightseer  might  appreciate  and  profit  by, 

STALE    CREAM 

Awaiting  the  approach  of  the  small  and  unpretentious  procession, 
it  was  soon  discovered  that  it  consisted  entirely  of  strangers.  The 
party  alighted  and  a  spokesman  announced  the  fact  that  the  party  had 
come  out  from  Charleston  to  see  the  old  log  cabin.  The  young  people 
were  cordially  received  and  shown  the  old  house,  both  its  exterior  and 
interior.    The  company  was  composed  of  young  men  from  fifteen  to 

104 


A  MEMORABLE  SUNDAY.  105 

twenty  years  of  age.  The  watchful  and  faithful  custodian  soon  de- 
tected that  they  were  undoubtedly  relic  hunters,  for  several  had  un- 
dertaken already  to  chip  off  pieces  from  the  logs,  windows  and  door 
frames.  Baffled  in  their  attempt  to  secure  some  mementos  of  the  old 
cabin,  but  bent  on  further  mischief,  they  thought  to  make  some  sort 
of  game  out  of  Mr.  Hall,  and  the  leader  of  the  party,  turning  to  our 
host,  asked  him  if  he  "Couldn't  tell  a  funny  story?  You  are  related  to 
Mr.  Lincoln,"  he  said,  "and  perhaps  you  have  some  of  his  genius  in  that 
line."  With  a  peculiar  twinkle  of  his  eye,  Uncle  John  Hall  quietly 
remarked:  "This  yer  woman  has  milked  me  dry,  and  I  don't  want  ter 
use  the  same  cream  ag'in;  for  I  reckon  it's  stale  now." 

A  look  of  amusement  passed  over  the  faces  of  the  sightseers,  and 
after  another  effort  they  succeeded  in  inducing  our  host  to  try  his 
"tongue  at  story-telling." 

POOR  BUT  PROUD 

Pausing  for  a  moment  to  collect  his  thoughts,  then  turning  to  me, 
he  said :  "Hev  I  ever  told  yer  anything  about  grandpap's  britches  hold- 
er?" I  could  truthfully  reply  in  the  negative,  and  consequently  we 
heard  the  following  tale: 

"Grandpap  Lincoln  would  sometimes  wear  galluses  made  out  of 
buckskin,  though  grandmarm  allers  kept  a  pair  that  she'd  made  out 
of  the  linen  that  she'd  growed  and  spun.  Grandmarm  wus  a  terrible 
industrious  woman.  Wal,  when  grandpap  worked  he'd  sweat  like  all 
get  out  and  his  galluses  would  get  so  stiff  that  they'd  stand  alone.  One 
day  one  of  the  neighbors  comin'  in  said  to  him,  ^Grandpap,  ye  haint 
greased  yer  galluses  lately?'  Then  grandmarm  said,  ^There,  paw,  1 
told  ye  so,  and  I'm  glad  on  it,'  for  though  we  wus  poor  and  humble, 
grandmarm  wus  awful  proud  and  lowed  her  men  folks  should 
have  the  best  that  was  agoing,"  and  turning  about  quickly 
he  faced  a  group  of  young  lads  and  said  to  them:  "Jest  to 
think,  boys,  how  our  folks  got  their  clothes,  never  none  of  'em 
wus  so  shiftless  as  to  wear  store  shirts,  or  coats  either.  We  got  our 
clothes  from  natur." 


106  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

LEATHER    BREECHES 

Mr.  Hall  continuing,  said:  "The  woods  ust  to  be  full  of  deer 
and  whenever  grandmarm  wanted  buckskin  to  fox  the  men's  pants 
with  she  ast  grandpap  or  Uncle  John  D.  Johnston  to  go  out  and 
kill  her  a  buck.  Uncle  Abe  tanned  the  hides,  but  he  never  did  the  killin' 
part.  Grandmarm  allers  said  that  Uncle  Abe  couldn't  stand  that  part 
of  the  bisness,  for  even  when  the  hogs  wus  killed  he'd  go  away  for  fear 
he'd  hear  their  squealing.  Then  when  the  hides  wus  ready  grandmarm 
would  sew  it  on  the  men's  britches  clean  up  to  the  knees,  so  as  to  save  the 
cloth  under  it.  When  it  rained  and  we  got  wet  we'd  have  to  stand  in 
front  of  the  fire  place  and  dry  out.  Wall,  as  the  buckskin  dried  it  would 
shrivel  and  crawl  up  till  it  almost  reached  our  knees.  One  day  Grand- 
pap Lincoln,  Uncle  Abe  and  Uncle  John  D.  Johnston  wus  a  standin'  in 
front  of  the  fire  dryin'  theirselves.  Uncle  Abe  would  allers  stand 
and  turn  and  turn  around  till  he  wus  fully  dried,  but  he  wus  awful  tall 
and  awkward,  and  his  legs  wus  so  long  and  they  looked  as  red  as  though 
they  were  about  blistered.  Then  the  folks  would  laf  fit  to  kill,  and 
Uncle  John  D.  would  allers  sing  out,  Tull  down  yer  britches,  Abe,  yer 
old  marrer  bones  need  kiverin'.' " 

THE    FRIENDLY    WRESTLE 

The  boys  were  now  intensely  interested,  and  by  asking  a  significant 
question  Uncle  John  Hall  was  induced  to  tell  more  anecdotes  regarding 
the  strength  and  agility  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  In  response  to  a  ques- 
tion Mr.  Hall  replied:  "Ye  want  to  know  if  Uncle  Abe  wus  strong 
enough  to  tackle  anything  or  lick  anybody,  do  ye?  Wall,  I'd  low  that 
didn't  concarn  him,  for  Uncle  Abe  could  tackle  anything,  and  onct  on 
a  time  Uncle  Abe  and  Dan  Needham  rastled  britches  holdt  and  Uncle 
Abe  throwed  Dan  two  times  and  then  he  ses,  ses  he,  *Let's  quit,'  cause  he 
didn't  want  to  hurt  Dan's  feelings.  Why,  grajQdpap  hisself  wus  allers  a 
braggin'  about  how  strong  and  limber  Uncle  Abe  wus.  How  he  could 
stand  with  his  hands  in  his  pockets  and  bend  over  and  tech  the  back  of 
his  head  on  the  ground,  right  level  ground,  tu.  Uncle  John  D.  John- 
ston wus  allers  trying  to  throw  Uncle  Abe  by  bein'  tricky.     Howsom- 


'A  MEMORABLE  SUNDAY,  Kdl 

ever,  Uncle  John  D.  Johnston  wus  mighty  strong,  tu,  and  whenever  he^d 
try  any  of  his  tricks  Uncle  Abe  ud  stand  with  his  hands  in  his  pockets 
and  say,  *Come  on,  John,  and  try  to  throw  me;  take  a  hold  anywhere/ 
Then  Uncle  John  he'd  try  and  try,  and  Uncle  Abe  would  jest  stand  and 
laf  and  laf. 

LIGHT    AS    A    FEATHER 

"But  as  for  strength,  we  wus  all  of  us  noted  for  that.  While  we're 
talkin'  about  strength,  Grandfather  Hall  wus  a  terribly  strong,  active 
feller,  tu,  and  he'd  often  come  in  and  pick  up  Grandmother  Lincoln 
and  pitch  her  into  the  bed  two  or  three  times,  till  it  peered  like  she  wus 
a  feather,  and  he'd  stand  back  and  fold  up  his  arms  and  laf  and  laf,  and 
he'd  say,  ^Why  don't  ye  stay  still,  grandmarm?' 

SPLITTING    RAILS 

"Now  do  ye  want  to  know  how  Uncle  Abe  got  his  strength?"  and 
without  waiting  for  an  answer  Mr.  Hall  said:  "Why  he  got  it  splitting 
rails.  Ye  knowed  it  wus  down  in  Illinois  near  Decatur,  and  at  Buck 
Grove  and  Muddy  Point  that  Uncle  Abe  use  to  do  so  much  rail-splittin'. 
Never  no  tree  wus  too  hard  for  him  to  tackle.  They'd  jest  topple  right 
over  when  Uncle  Abe  ud  chop.  He  never  minded  choppin'  any  trees, 
nor  splittin'  rails,  nor  nothin',  nor  no  kind  of  work,  though  one  time 
I  remember  he  did  say  that  the  hardest  work  he  ever  hed  to  do  and  that 
which  worried  him  the  most  wus  when  he  loaded  a  boat  with  a  wheel- 
barrer.,  It  puzzled  him  awfully  to  keep  the  barrer  on  the  plank,  and 
to  catch  holt  of  the  handles,  and  to  run  it  up  hurt  him  mighty.  I 
reckon  it  wus  because  he  wus  so  tall." 

Mr.  Hall  paused  and  appeared  to  have  exhausted  his  fund  of  stories, 
but  the  interest  of  the  boys  was  now  at  fever  heat  and  they  fairly  begged 
Mr.  Hall  to  tell  them  just  one  more.  Young  Davis,  the  brightest  lad 
in  the  party,  suggested  that  Mr.  Hall  relate  the  story  of  the  celebrated 
rail-splitting  bee  at  which  Mr.  Lincoln  had  been  the  victor.  But  Uncle 
John  Hall  thought  he  had  something  more  important  and  significant 
than  the  President's  rail-splitting,  and  he  proceeded  to  tell  the  follow- 
ing story: 


108  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

NOT    EXACTLY    THOSE    RAILS 

"John  Hanks  told  me  about  a  piece  that  Uncle  Abe  spoke  onct,  and 
I  reckon  it  wus  the  first  time  that  he  ever  made  a  political  speech.  It 
wus  down  at  Salem,  a  little  town  nigh  to  Springfield.  Wall,  they  had 
a  spruce  speaker  from  the  big  town,  who  thought  he  could  tell  the 
country  people  all  they  ought  ter  know.  He  spouted  away  for  a  while 
and  after  he  hed  finished,  John  Hanks,  who  wus  a  cousin  of  Uncle  Abe^s 
tu,  told  the  folks  he  could  produce  a  rail-splitter  who  could  beat  that 
feller  all  to  pieces.  Cousin  John,  he  got  a  lot  of  rails  and  piled  'em  up  in 
a  heap  and  then  took  Uncle  Abe  up  by  'em  and  told  him  to  go  ahead, 
which  he  did,  and  of  course  he  knocked  the  other  feller  all  to  flinders. 
When  Uncle  Abe  hed  got  thru  speakin'  the  feller  that  hed  talked  first 
come  up  and  askt  him  if  he  split  them  rails  piled  up  thar.  Uncle  Abe 
looked  at  'em  purty  carefully  and  then  said,  ses  he,  ^I  can't  say  that  I 
exactly  split  those  particular  rails,  but  I  have  split  just  as  good  ones,' 
which  wus  the  truth,  fer  I  myself  hev  seed  Uncle  Abe  make  the  slickest 
rail  ye  ever  looked  on." 

The  day  was  waning,  the  shadows  were  lengthening  and  we  all  real- 
ized that  Mr.  Hall  would  soon  send  his  boys  off  to  attend  to  the  evening 
chores.  Their  departure  meant  an  interruption  and  probably  an  end, 
for  that  day,  to  story-telling.  An  appealing  look  directed  to  me  from 
one  of  the  young  men  of  the  party  decided  my  course  of  action,  and  I 
concluded  to  take  this  occasion  to  ask  Uncle  John  to  relate  the  circum- 
stances connected  with  Mr.  Lincoln's  first  law  case,  a  reminiscence 
which  he  had  promised  to  give  me  for  some  time,  but  had  never  seemed 
in  the  mood  for  that  particular  story. 

Without  comment  or  delay  Uncle  John  Hall  gave  us  the  following 
account  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  first  lav/suit: 

LINCOLN^S    FIRST    LAWSUIT 

"The  folks  round  here  in  our  neighborhood  use  to  hold  camp  meetin' 
down  to  Paradise  onct  a  year.  Uncle  Joe  Hall,  he  went  over  one  time 
with  a  lot  of  young  people.  He  bought  a  flask  of  whisky  and  took  it 
along  with  him  and  when  he  got  on  to  the  camp  grounds  he  hid  it  in 


ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

The  original  photograph  of  this  half-tone  of  Abraham  Lincoln 
was  taken  just  previous  to  his  nomination  as  president. 


(By  courtesy  of  H.  W.  Fay,  DeKalb,  111.) 

ABBAHAM    LINCOLN    AND    HIS    SON    ''TAD.'* 


A  MEMORABLE  SUNDAY.  109 

the  wagin.  The  preacher  hed  been  watching  him  and  noticed  whar 
he  put  the  flask,  so  he  jest  walked  along  and  picked  it  up  and  put  it 
into  his  pocket  and  carried  it  into  the  pulpit  with  him,  and  jest  before 
he  began  to  preach  he  held  up  the  whisky  and  told  the  people  that  he 
hed  found  it  on  the  camp  grounds  and  wus  agoin'  to  preach  a  sermon 
about  it,  when  Uncle  Joe  jest  stood  right  up  and  said  to  the  minister, 
^That's  my  bottle  and  the  whisky  in  it  is  mine,  tu;  and  I'll  take  it  if 
you  please/  But  the  preacher  wouldn't  give  it  up,  and  Uncle  Joe 
knowed  it  wouldn't  cost  him  nothin'  to  hev  a  suit,  as  we  hed  a  lawyer 
in  the  family,  so  he  kept  still,  said  nothing,  and  the  first  time  that 
Uncle  Abe  come  up  yere  after  that  he  got  him  to  sue  the  preacher  for 
the  whisky,  the  flask  and  for  hurting  his  feelings  by  exposing  him  before 
the  gal  he  took  along  with  him.  Uncle  Abe  tried  the  case  and  got 
twelve  cents  damages,  but  the  preacher  wus  so  mad  that  he  carried 
it  up  to  a  higher  court.  Uncle  Abe  jest  laffed  and  said,  ses  he,  ^We^U 
beat  'em  ag'in,'  and  shore  nuff  he  did,  and  got  the  judgment  raised  two 
cents  more;  that  made  fourteen  cents  now,  and  the  other  feller  hed  all 
the  costs  to  pay,  which  wus  a  whole  lot.  Of  course  we  knowed  all  the 
time  Uncle  Abe  would  win  anythin'  he  set  out  tu." 


ss 


HE-OH-A-NAY,    WHOOP" 


Mr.  Hall  rose  from  the  low  seat  and  stepped  within  the  old  cabin. 
He  looked  about  the  room  for  a  moment,  and  seeming  to  forget  the 
presence  of  others,  said  in  a  low  voice:  "Poor  grandpap  and  grand- 
marm,  they  wus  so  good  and  kind.  When  Uncle  John  D.  Johnston 
lived  with  us  grandpap  wus  awful  fond  of  his  children,  and  if  any  of 
them  wus  sick  or  worrisom  he  allers  hed  one  favorite  song  he  ust  to  sing 
to  them.  This  it  wus,  ^He-oh-a-nay,  He-oh-a-nay,  whoop.'  It  would 
allers  stop  the  children  cry  in',  and  he'd  say,  ^That  is  what  the  Injuns 
sing  to  their  pappooses.'  I  can  still  hear  him  singing  that  Injun  song." 
Then  facing  the  little  company.  Uncle  John  Hall  brushed  a  tear  from  his 
bronzed  cheek  and  exclaimed:  "How  I  wish  ye  could  have  seen  and 
knowed  grandmarm.  Jest  after  my  third  child  was  born  she  got 
crippled,  but  she  couldn't  lay  still  in  bed,  nohow.  So  she  got  my  woman 
to  tie  a  string  to  the  cradle,  and  there  she  would  lay  and  rock  the  baby. 


no  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

I  lowed  not  to  have  her,  but  she  would.  Well,  she  couldn't  be  no  other 
way  but  kind,  and  good  and  patient,  nohow,  'cause  she  wus  the 
best  woman  I  ever  knowed." 

THE  FAMOUS  BUREAU 

With  many  thanks  for  their  pleasant  reception,  the  party  was  re- 
luctantly preparing  to  leave,  when  Mr.  Hall  offered  to  show  them  the 
very  bureau  that  Grandmarm  Lincoln  had  brought  from  Kentucky  to 
her  new  home  in  Indiana.  The  young  men  were  delighted,  and  inviting 
us  to  ride  "around  the  road  to  the  cottage,"  we  were  soon  at  Mr.  Hall's 
"new"  house,  and  following  the  old  gentleman  into  the  kitchen,  the 
valuable  family  relic  was  pointed  out  by  Mr.  Hall,  who  called  attention 
to  the  brass  handles,  which  were  objects  of  especial  family  pride.  The 
party  was  given  the  privilege  of  closely  inspecting  the  old  piece  of  fur- 
niture, and  when  all  were  satisfied  and  the  numerous  questions  an- 
swered, Mr.  Hall  opened  the  upper  drawer  and  with  a  mysterious  and 
solemn  air  took  from  it  a  package.  Carefully  unwrapping  it,  he  handed 
me  a  book.  Great  was  my  astonishment  when  I  discovered  that  I  had 
before  me  the  old  family  Bible.  It  was  old  and  finger-worn  and  bore 
the  date  of  1799.  The  party  clamored  for  a  sight  of  the  family  record, 
but  Mr.  Hall  shook  his  head  and,  using  a  few  unmentionable  words,  said, 
"Uncle  Dennis  Hanks  took  it  long  enough  to  have  it  copied  and  never 
returned  it,  fur  he  sold  it  to  a  relic  hunter  and  got  a  right  smart  price 
fur  it,"  and  with  another  burst  of  indignation  Mr.  Hall  again  mourned 
the  loss  of  the  valuable  relic. 


M 


CHAPTER  XVIIl. 

LOVE,  COURTSHIP  AND  MARRIAGE 

B.  LINCOLN'S  legal  career  was  now  begun  in  earnest,  and  he 
entered  into  the  most  trivial  cases  with  as  great  zest  and  enthu- 
siasm as  he  did  the  most  important  ones.  The  poorest  client 
could  expect  as  thorough  and  conscientious  work  as  the  richest  and  most 
influential  citizen.  Though  his  profession  claimed  his  attention,  yet 
the  special  session  of  the  previous  Legislature,  held  during  1839  at  Van- 
dalia,  found  Mr.  Lincoln  in  his  seat,  and  he  was  faithful  to  legislative 
duties,  although  he  felt  that  his  business  was  suffering  thereby. 

When  Mr.  Lincoln  was  placed  upon  the  legislative  ticket  in  1840 
he  consented  to  run,  as  he  would  not  be  obliged  to  entirely  sacrifice  his 
business,  for  the  capital  had  been  changed  to  Springfield.  He  wais  of 
course  re-elected,  for  he  had  now  become  so  thoroughly  a  man  of  the 
people  that  he  could  easily  carry  his  district,  and  apparently  for  any 
office  that  he  might  run  for. 

During  this  session  Mr.  Lincoln  took  part  in  all  the  debates.  Some 
of  them  were  political,  while  others  were  entirely  local;  but  no  matter 
how  important  or  unimportant,  he  had  proven  himself  able  to  cope 
with  them.  If  of  vital  importance  he  handled  the  issue  with  great 
ability,  but  if  deserving  of  dismissal  or  riddance,  he  showed  an  equal 
ability  in  overcoming  the  nuisance. 

A    STORY    FOR    EVERYTHING 

From  an  entirely  different  standpoint,  however,  was  the  latter  situa- 
tion handled.  The  tactics  which  he  here  used  were  begun  in  his  early 
youth,  and  he  had  now  grown  wonderfully  adept  in  them. 

If  a  man  broached  a  subject  which  he  personally  did  not  want  to 
hear,  he  told  a  story  that  immediately  changed  the  conversation.    If  he 

was  called  upon  to  answer  a  question  that  he  did  not  care  to  answer 

111 


112  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

direct,  a  question  was  put  in  turn  and  the  other  fellow  had  the  worst 
of  it. 

He  had  a  story  for  everything,  either  real  or  imaginary,  and  his 
faculty  for  finding  or  making  these  apropos  stories  was  indeed  won- 
derful. Every  fact  or  combination  of  facts  seemed  to  revolve  themselves 
into  allegorical  or  real  form,  and  without  seeming  effort,  unrolled  to  suit 
the  occasion.  His  mind  was  so  full  of  these  quaint  stories  that  one 
wonders  how  the  store  house  was  supplied. 

It  was  during  this  session  of  the  Legislature  that  Mr.  Lincoln  used 
a  "fiction  point"  with  great  success.  A  member  from  Wabash  County 
had  been  very  troublesome  over  an  exceedingly  unimportant  point.  At 
last  his  constant  appearance  and  vociferous  utterance  became  unpleas- 
antly annoying  to  the  members  in  general,  Mr.  Lincoln  included. 

THE     MEMBER     FROM    WABASH 

One  day  when  the  member  aforesaid  had  discharged  all  of  his  bat- 
teries concerning  his  pet  object,  Mr.  Lincoln  took  the  floor,  and  with 
one  of  his  quizzical  expressions  and  in  an  unusually  drawling  tone,  ad- 
dressed the  speaker.  Becoming  exceedingly  personal,  he  began  by 
saying: 

"The  member  from  Wabash  reminds  me  of  an  old  friend.  He^s  a 
peculiar  looking  fellow,  with  shaggy,  overhanging  eyebrows,  and  a  pair 
of  spectacles  under  them.  One  morning  just  after  the  old  man  got  up, 
he  imagined,  on  looking  out  of  his  door,  that  he  saw  rather  a  lively 
squirrel  on  a  tree  near  his  house.  So  he  took  down  his  gun  and  fired 
at  the  squirrel,  but  the  squirrel  paid  no  attention  to  the  shot.  He 
loaded  and  fired  again  and  again,  until  at  the  thirteenth  shot  he  set 
down  his  gun  impatiently  and  said  to  his  boy,  who  was  looking  on: 
^Boy,  there's  something  wrong  about  this  rifle.'  ^Rifle's  all  right,  I 
know  'tis,'  responded  the  boy,  ^but  w here's  your  squirrel?'  ^Don't  you 
see  him  humped  up  about  half  way  up  the  tree?'  inquired  the  old  man, 
peering  over  his  spectacles  and  getting  mystified.  *No,  I  don't,'  re- 
sponded the  boy,  and  then  turning  and  looking  into  his  father's  face,  he 


LOVE,  COURTSHIP  AND  MARRIAGE.  113 

exclaimed,  ^I  see  your  squirrel;  you  have  been  firing  at  a  louse  on  your 
eyebrow.' " 

The  story  needed  no  application  or  explanation.  The  House  was  in 
convulsions  of  laughter,  and  the  member  from  Wabash  was  completely 
routed,  so  much  so  that  he  was  very  careful  during  the  entire  session 
not  to  provoke  any  allusion  to  his  "eyebrows." 

FORMED    SECOND    LAW    PARTNERSHIP 

At  the  close  of  the  legislative  session  Mr.  Lincoln  severed  his  con-, 
nection  with  Major  Stuart  and  immediately  formed  a  business  associa- 
tion with  Judge  S.  T.  Logan,  of  Springfield,  one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  in 
the  State.  He  entered  upon  this  new  partnership  with  a  full  determin- 
ation to  devote  his  entire  time  to  his  chosen  profession,  but  the  people 
would  not  permit  him  to  do  so.  He  was  called  upon  from  all  quarters 
of  the  State,  and  from  that  time  and  until  his  election  to  the  Presidency 
of  the  United  States  he  engaged  in  the  many  exciting  and  important 
political  campaigns  between  the  years  eighteen  hundred  and  forty  and 
eighteen  hundred  and  sixty. 

A    BIG    MAN    AND    A    HIGH    HAT 

He  was  now  considered  by  the  old  neighbors  and  friends  and  rela- 
tives a  "big  man,"  and  in  speaking  of  him  they  nearly  all  referred  to 
him  as  wearing  a  "high  hat,  but  never  being  no  different,  nohow."  His 
love  and  sympathy  and  kindness  did  not  decrease  in  proportion  as  his 
popularity  increased,  but  on  the  contrary  he  now  felt  that  as  he  was 
earning  something  more  than  a  living  a  greater  responsibility  rested 
upon  him,  and  he  still  continued  to  bear  the  burdens  and  share  the  anx- 
ieties of  his  immediate  familv.  About  this  time  he  assumed  the  debt 
that  rested  upon  his  father's  little  farm,  located  in  Coles  County,  and 
always  visited  the  old  homestead  twice  a  year  in  order  to  pay  up  the 
interest,  and  from  time  to  time  lessen  the  principal,  which  had  been 
borrowed  by  his  father  from  the  school  funds.  This  debt  Mr.  Lincoln 
finally  succeeded  in  canceling  after  many  years  and  many  sacrifices. 
He  alwavs  walked  to  the  old  home  in  order  to  save  liverv  hire,  and  the 


114  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

money  which  he  would  have  used  for  that  purpose  was  given  to  his 
mother. 

After  his  father's  death  he  deeded  the  land  to  Daniel  D.  Johnston, 
the  son  of  his  stepmother,  in  consideration  of  a  promise  that  he  would 
support  her  as  long  as  she  lived. 

MR.    LINCOLN'S    RESPONSIBILITY 

What  a  remarkable  thing  to  do.  The  stepson  paying  the  mother's 
son  a  consideration  for  the  care  of  his  own  mother.  But  so  it  was 
throughout  his  entire  life;  Mr.  Lincoln  was  ever  looking  out  to  defend 
the  weakling,  to  protect  the  innocent,  and  to  succor  some  needy  one. 

Friend  or  foe,  relative  or  stranger,  irrespective,  received  his  kindly 
thoughts  and  active  efforts.  An  unfortunate  man  was  a  subject  of  his 
sympathy  no  matter  what  his  business  relations  to  him  might  be.  Un- 
paid notes  were  returned  too  and  rather  than  cause  further  discomfort 
he  would  cancel  the  obligation  of  such  an  one. 

Legal  counsel  and  services  were  freely  given  to  those  who  were  un- 
able to  compensate  him.  Mothers'  sons  were  pardoned  and  restored 
to  their  homes  through  the  kindness  of  the  great-hearted  man.  Dumb 
animals  were  rescued  from  cruel  treatment,  and  little  children  were 
caressed  and  always  given  a  tender  greeting. 

When  a  great  and  mighty  nation  called  upon  him  in  its  extremity 
he  was  not  found  wanting.  No  cowardly  fear  filled  his  soul.  The 
pilot  stood  at  his  post,  and  the  ship  of  state  was  carried  safely  through 
treacherous  waters,  past  dangerous  rocks,  into  a  safe  harbor. 

LINCOLN'S    MARRIAGE 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  now  thirty -three  years  of  age  and  already  a  great 
favorite  with  the  young  ladies  of  Springfield.  In  November  of  this 
year  (1842)  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Todd,  daughter  of  the  Hon. 
Robert  S.  Todd,  of  Lexington,  Ky.  Miss  Todd  was  quite  a  belle  and 
had  often  met  Mr.  Lincoln  at  the  home  of  her  sister,  Mrs.  Edwards,  of 
Springfield.  When  criticised  by  her  relatives  and  friends  for  bestow- 
ing her  affections  upon  so  awkward,  homely  and  uncouth  a  man,  she 
remarked:    "I  am  marrying  a  man  great  enough  to  be  the  President 


ZOVE,  COURTSHIP  AND  MARRIAGE.  115 

of  the  United  States,"  and  we  know  that  her  prophecy  became  a  verity. 

Mr.  Lincoln  now  undertook  to  give  himself  up  to  the  pleasures  of 
domestic  life  and  professional  work,  but  the  people  would  not  be  con- 
tent, and  he  was  constantly  called  into  political  service.  He  had  not 
married  earlier  in  life  because  circumstances  would  not  permit,  and 
in  fact  had  hitherto  denied  himself  the  companionship  of  women, 
because  of  his  limited  means,  although  he  was  especially  fond  of  their 
society. 

A  glimpse  of  his  domestic  life  shows  the  same  unpretentious  atmos- 
phere that  had  always  characterized  every  situation,  condition  and 
circumstance  in  the  man's  career. 

The  newly  married  couple  began  life  by  taking  cheap  rooms  at  one 
of  the  hotels  in  Springfield,  and  it  was  not  until  some  time  afterwards 
that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lincoln  moved  into  more  pretentious  quarters. 

This  new  relationship  did  not  change  Mr.  Lincoln's  habits;  he  was 
the  same  unaffected  and  simple-hearted  man.  His  home  was  modest  in 
the  extreme,  his  relation  to  his  children  was  that  of  a  comrade  rather 
than  a  monitor.  His  visits  and  intercourse  with  his  "poor  relations" 
were  not  discontinued,  nor  less  cordial. 

I    LOW    YE^VE    GOT    HYSTERIOKY 

This  very  fact  led  me  to  speculate  upon  how  the  announcement  of 
his  marriage  was  received  by  his  old  friends  and  relatives,  and  I  won- 
dered if  his  wife  had  ever  visited  his  father  and  mother.  Sitting  upon 
the  dilapidated  doorstep  of  the  "old  log  cabin"  I  fell  into  a  dreaming 
mood  and  my  thoughts  ran  away  back  more  than  half  a  century.  Had 
not  this  quiet,  sad-eyed  man,  through  all  the  years  of  his  young  man- 
hood, which  had  been  so  full  of  sorrow,  poverty,  privations  and  hard- 
ship, never  known  the  joy  of  love  before?  In  fancy,  however,  I  heard 
the  bashful  and  clumsy  youth  telling  a  coy  and  gentle  maiden  the  old, 
old  story.  Her  answer,  low  and  sweet,  was  interrupted  by  a  shadow 
falling  across  the  little  path  that  led  to  the  front  gate,  and  I  looked  up 
quickly.  The  living  figure  of  Mr.  Lincoln  confronted  me.  Uttering  a 
shriek  of  terror,  I  sprang  from  my  low  seat  and  attempted  to  flee,  but 
the  voice  of  Uncle  John  Hall  brought  me  back  to  the  present,  and  re- 


IIG  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

assuring  me,  he  said:  "Sho,  woman,  that  night  at  the  cabin  has  made 
ye  narvous,  and  pon  my  soul  I  low  je've  got  hystericky."  My  only  reply 
was,  "But  you  looked  so  much  like  Mr.  Lincoln."  With  a  quiet  voice 
again  he  said,  "So  I've  ben  told  nigh  onto  a  hundred  times." 

YE    TAKE    MY    BREATH    AWAY 

The  opportunity  had  arrived  and  I  must  take  advantage  of  it.  Ie- 
viting  him  to  sit  beside  me  on  the  decayed  old  doorstep,  I  plied  him 
with  the  following  questions:  What  did  the  old  friends  and  relatives 
say  when  they  heard  that  Mr.  Lincoln  was  to  be  married?  Did  his 
wafe  visit  them?  Did  you  ever  see  the  children?  Pursuing  my  ques- 
tions further  I  also  asked  if  Mary  Todd  was  the  only  sweetheart  that 
Mr.  Lincoln  ever  had. 

Looking  at  me  in  a  curious  way,  he  answered:  "Yer  take  my 
breath  away  with  so  many  questions  all  to  once."  Then,  after  the  man- 
ner of  a  philosopher,  he  looked  wise  and  appeared  to  have  some  im- 
portant information.  Fearing  that  if  I  interrupted  his  meditations  I 
would  altogether  lose  my  answer,  I  awaited  patiently  his  pleasure. 
Distracting  moments  passed  by  before  he  replied: 

LINCOLN^S    FIRST    LOVE 

"It  wus  after  a  little  visit  to  us,  and  when  we  heard  that  Uncle  Abe 
w^us  goin'  to  be  married,  then  we  axed  grandmarm  if  Uncle  Abe  never 
hed  a  gal  before,  and  she  said,  ses  she,  'Well,  Abe  wus  never  a  hand 
nohow  to  run  round  visitin'  much,  or  to  go  with  the  gals  neither,  but 
he  did  fall  in  love  w^ith  Ann  Rutledge,  who  lived  out  somewhere  near 
Vandalia  or  Springfield,  and  after  she  died  he  come  home  and  told  all 
about  her,  and  cried  dreadful,  and  he  never  could  talk  of  her  nohow  but 
he'd  shed  tears.' 

SHE    IS    BUSY    AND    COULDN^T    COME 

"He  told  grandmarm  onct  they  wus  promised  to  be  married,  and 
that's  all  any  of  us  ever  heerd  about  that  love  affair;  but  after 
Uncle  Abe  hed  lived  at  Springfield  for  a  w^hile  we  heerd  he  wus  a 
goin'  to  marry  a  Kantucky  woman,  and  nothin'  more  than  that.      Be 


LOVE,  COURTSHIP  AND  MARRIAGE.  117 

the  next  time  Uncle  Abe  come  up  to  see  us  he  told  us  he  wus  already 
married,  and  when  we  ast  him  why  he  didn't  bring  his  wife  up  to  see 
us  he  said,  *She  is  very  busy  and  couldn't  come/  But  we  knowed  better 
than  that-  You  see,  he  wus  too  proud  to  bring  her  up,  'cause  he 
knowed  nothin'  would  suit  her,  nohow.  Of  course  she  hadn't  been  raised 
the  way  we  wus,  and  wus  different  styled  from  us,  and  we  heerd  tu  that 
she  wus  as  proud  as  spades.  No,  and  he  never  brought  nary  of  the  chil- 
dren, either.  They  were  young  before  they  went  to  Washington,  and 
Uncle  Abe  could  not  bring  them  without  her  to  nuss  and  take  care  of 
them.  But  he  allers  come  himself  twice  a  year,  and  there  wus  no  dif- 
ference in  him,  as  I  can  recollect,  from  the  first  time  I  ever  seed  him." 

Mr.  Hall  paused  for  breath  and  fell  into  a  silent  mood.  Hoping  he 
might  have  something  further  to  say  if  I  did  not  disturb  him,  and  thus 
change  the  current  of  his  thoughts,  I  also  remained  silent. 

His  meditation  grew  tiresome,  and  annoyed  by  his  long  abstraction, 
I  gave  up  hope  and  sought  information  elsewhere. 

Gathering  up  my  papers  I  consulted  my  correspondence,  and  dis- 
covered that  many  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  immediate  associates  had  considered 
him  queer  and  at  times  constrained  or  absent-minded,  as  they  termed 
it.    Quoting  from  a  personal  letter,  the  writer  said: 

^^Although  one  of  the  most  even  tempered  men  that  ever  lived,  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  the  subject  of  great  varieties  of  mood  and  extremes  of 
feeling.  He  was  often  oppressed  with  a  deep  melancholy,  weighed  down 
by  the  great  problems  of  his  own  life  and  of  humanity  in  general.  At 
other  times  he  was  as  happy  as  a  boy,  and  took  delight  in  the  most 
trivial  things,  and  would  laugh  immoderately  over  incidents  and  stories 
that  would  hardly  interest  many  another  man  in  his  position. 

MY    CHILDREN    ARE    MY    HAPPINESS 

"He  was  heard  to  exclaim  more  than  once:  'Oh,  how  hard  it  is  to  die 
and  not  to  be  able  to  leave  the  world  any  better  for  one's  little  life  in  it.' 
^Again  he  would  be  as  jolly  as  others  and  would  then  say:  'My  children 
are  my  happiness,  and  I  feel  that  God  is  good  to  me  for  having  conferred 
upon  me  the  privilege  of  bringing  into  the  world  innocent  children.' " 


118  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

This  all  reminded  me  that  some  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  biographers  had 
intimated  as  a  fact  the  possibility  of  suicide,  and  as  Uncle  John  Hall 
was  returning  to  the  affairs  of  this  particular  globe,  I  asked  him  if  he 
believed  that  Mr.  Lincoln  had  ever  attempted  or  even  contemplated 
suicide. 

His  answer  was  short  and  to  the  point:  "No;  don't  ye  believe  sech 
trash  as  that.  Uncle  Abe  knowed  too  much  to  do  sech  a  foolish  act. 
Why,  he  couldn't  be  peart  all  the  time,  and  jest  because  he  took  some 
of  his  time  to  be  a  thinking  how  he  was  going  to  run  the  United  States, 
then  folks  called  him  sad  like." 

Our  conversation  drifted  along  and  Mr.  Hall  acknowledged  that  Mr. 
Lincoln  had  said  to  him  more  than  once,  "that  there  were  some  things 
so  hard  to  bear  that  one  felt  like  getting  rid  of  it  all."  Then,  looking 
at  me  suspiciously,  he  said:  "Sho,  woman,  don't  'low  sech  things  to 
trouble  ye,  for  Uncle  Abe  thought  too  much  of  hisself  to  ever  think  of 
sech  a  cowardly  deed." 

GIVING    UNCLE    ABE    A    SEND    OFF 

The  day  was  done.  A  call  from  the  little  house  on  the  hill  conveyed 
the  welcome  news  that  supper  was  ready.  Mr.  Hall  proposed  that  we 
return  to  the  cottage  by  way  of  the  traveled  road.  As  we  walked  along 
Uncle  John  Hall  pointed  out  here  and  there  some  particular  spot  sacred 
to  by-gone  recollections.  "Right  in  this  yer  corner  of  the  fence  Grand- 
pap  Lincoln  dug  a  yarb  that  cured  my  first  baby  of  the  chills  and  fever. 
Over  yander  we  all  found  a  turkey's  nest  full  of  eggs,  and  whether  or 
not  it  wus  our  particular  turkey  that  didn't  make  no  difference,  nohow, 
because  we  claimed  the  young  turkeys  by  right  of  takin'  care  on  'em. 
You  know,  don't  ye,  that  young  turkeys  is  mighty  easy  to  kill,  and  we 
had  a  lot  of  trouble  with  that  particular  brood,  for  it  wus  out  of  sea- 
son; but  we  wus  expecting  Uncle  Abe  up  fore  long,  and  as  he'd  been 
down  to  Washing-ton  to  Congress,  we  hed  lowed  to  give  him  a  send  off, 
and  we  nussed  the  turkeys  very  particularly.  Wall,  Uncle  Abe  come 
and  wus  jest  the  same,  and  never  put  on  no  airs,  nohow,  but  jest  told  his 
cur'us  stories,  went  round  barefoot  like  the  rest  of  us,  and  split  kind- 


ZOVE,  COURTSHIR  AND  MARRIAGE.  119 

ling  wood  jest  as  handy  as  ever."  The  homely  anecdotes  were  told  so 
naturally  and  so  vividly  that  it  took  no  effort  whatever  to  feel  the  pres- 
ence of  the  departed  household  as  each  had  followed  this  self-same 
path. 

I'D    LIKE    TO    SEE    UNCLE    ABE 

We  were  now  entering  the  gate,  and  Mr.  Hall  paused,  looked  up 
and  down  the  road,  as  if  expecting  some  one,  then,  seeming  to  address 
an  invisible  person,  said: 

"Grandmarm  allers  took  this  track  when  she  walked  over  to  Mr. 
Phipps  onct  a  year  to  get  bled.  She  never  failed  and  would  walk  the 
mile  and  a  half  as  spry  as  a  young  gal.  She  use  to  tell  us  that  every- 
body should  be  bled  in  the  spring,  so  as  to  keep  well  and  healthy.  She 
allers  had  the  big  vein  in  her  ankle  jint  opened.  I  reckon  she  did  that 
because  she  was  so  proud  and  didn't  want  a  scar  on  her  arm."  Then 
pointing  to  the  cabin,  whose  dim  outlines  were  just  discernible,  Uncle 
John  Hall  spoke  in  a  voice  so  low  that  one  could  hardly  catch  the  words: 
"How  I'd  like  to  see  grandmarm  and  grandpap  and  Uncle  Abe  onct 
ag^in." 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

MR.   LINCOLN   IN   CONGRESS 

THE  political  biographers  of  Mr.  Lincoln  have  said  that  in  1846  he 
was  "induced  to  accept"  the  nomination  for  Congress  from  the 
Sangamon  district.  Would  it  not  be  quite  as  well  to  acknowl- 
edge, with  his  own  frankness  and  directness,  that  Mr.  Lincoln  did  not 
wait  Macawber-like  for  something  to  turn  up,  but  admit  that  his  own 
shrewdness  and  prudent,  diplomatic  effort  secured  his  nomination?  Al- 
though at  this  time  he  was  leading  a  rather  unimportant  and  circum- 
scribed life  in  Springfield,  simply  following  his  profession  and  attend- 
ing to  his  domestic  duties,  yet  he  had  not  been  idle  in  political  plans. 

Having  received  the  nomination,  Mr.  Lincoln  did,  after  the  manner  of 
Western  nominees,  stump  his  district.  He  had  plenty  of  material  for 
discussion  and  he  handled  anything  that  he  undertook  with  the  same 
thoroughness,  determination  and  ability  that  had  always  been  a  part 
of  his  nature  from  his  earliest  boyhood. 

There  had  been  important  changes  in  the  acquisition  of  new  terri- 
tory, for  Texas  had  been  admitted  to  the  Union  during  the  winter  of 
the  preceding  year,  and  the  war  with  Mexico  had  commenced.  The 
country  had  a  foreign  war  on  its  hands,  a  war  which  the  old  Republican, 
or  rather  Whig,  party  considered  unnecessary  and  unjustifiable. 

The  issues  between  the  two  political  parties  were  pronounced  and 
the  difference  clearly  shown.  Mr.  Lincoln's  position  was  so  clearly  out- 
lined that  his  friends  and  the  community  were  not  in  doubt  as  to  his 
views.  He  convinced  the  many  and  set  the  few  thinking  by  his  clear 
and  just  reasoning,  and  his  terse  and  comprehensive  way  of  putting  the 
truth  before  the  people  secured  his  election. 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  elected  by  an  unprecedented  majority,  and  "there 
seems  to  be  no  doubt  but  that  this  remarkable  plurality  was  because  of 
the  popular  faith  in  Mr.  Lincoln's  earnestness,  conscientiousness  and 
integrity." 

120 


MR,  LINCOLN  IN  CONGRESS,  121 

He  took  his  seat  in  the  Thirtieth  Congress  December  6,  1847.  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  from  the  first  alive  to  the  interests  of  his  party.  He  made 
himself  master  of  every  subject  that  he  undertook  to  discuss,  and  his 
earnestness,  honesty,  clearness  and  deep  unselfish  interest  in  questions 
of  public  concern  won  for  himself  the  respect,  at  least,  if  not  the  admi- 
ration, of  the  more  polished  members  from  the  cultured  East,  who  had 
been  led  to  believe  that  the  member  from  the  Sangamon  district  was 
an  ignorant  clown. 

THE    TALLEST    MAN    \N    CONGRESS 

It  was  during  this  Congressional  session  that  Mr.  Lincoln  became 
better  acquainted  with  the  Hon.  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  who  was  also  a 
member  from  Illinois.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  the  tallest  man  in  the  House 
and  Mr.  Douglas  the  shortest  man  in  the  Senate.  It  was  a  peculiar 
coincidence  that  these  two  unique  characters,  so  strangely  unlike, 
should  soon  meet  in  forensic  battle,  standing  out  before  their  State 
and  country  as  the  champions  of  the  policies  that  divided  the  American 
people. 

The  fourteenth  day  of  August  the  first  session  of  the  Thirtieth  Con- 
gress came  to  a  close.    The  session  had  beei.  one  of  great  importance, 
and  excitement    Mr.  Lincoln  had  discharged  his  duties  ably  and  cop 
scientiously,  though  he  had  not  entirely  pleased  his  constituency. 

The  second  session  was  comparatively  a  quiet  one  and  the  fourth 
of  March  brought  Mr.  Lincoln's  congressional  career  to  a  close.  While 
he  had  maintained  a  most  respected  position  in  the  House,  he  had  not 
made  any  great  impression  either  upon  the  members  or  the  country  at 
large. 

Upon  his  return  to  Springfield  Mr.  Lincoln  again  entered  upon  the 
duties  of  his  profession.  He  gave  himself  up  to  the  enjoyment  of  do- 
mestic and  social  pleasures  and  to  further  and  broader  research  in 
study  and  investigation.  His  children  were  a  constant  and  continual 
feast  of  joy  to  him.  He  was  so  tenderly  fond  of  them  that  he  exercised 
no  paternal  government  except  to  tax  the  disobedient  child  with  having 
broken  his  heart  when  it  did  wrong. 


1»»  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

LINCOLN'S    REGRETS 

Mr.  Lincoln's  lack  of  early  advantages  and  his  limited  education  were 
now  indeed  a  source  of  great  irritation  and  annoyance  to  him.  His 
intercourse  with  the  distinguished  men  of  the  country  and  the  culti- 
vated society  of  Washington  no  doubt  had  deeply  impressed  him  with 
the  fact  that  he  was  wofully  lacking  in  society  manners.  Yet  with  all 
of  these  drawbacks  facing  him  he  was  never  a  humble  man,  for  he 
recognized  his  own  strength  of  moral  character  and  thus  ever  lived  up 
to  the  highest  ideals — sincerity,  generosity  and  absolute  honesty. 

It  was  at  this  time  that  Mr.  Lincoln  embraced  every  method  and 
opportunity  for  further  mental  development.  From  the  year  eighteen 
hundred  and  forty-seven  up  to  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-four 
Mv,  Lincoln  led  a  quiet  professional  life,  and  seemed  to  have  been 
rather  indifferent  to  the  course  of  political  affairs.  But  now  at  this 
time  a  new  political  era  was  opened.  Events  of  great  interest  were 
eeeurring  and  the  slavery  question  was  begun,  an  agitation  which  was 
destined  not  to  cease  until  slavery  itself  should  be  destroyed.  Mr. 
Lincoln  had  always  known  and  felt  that  slavery  was  wrongs — a  blot 
upon  the  nation's  otherwise  fair  fame — but  to  wipe  out  that  institution 
which  had  been  for  so  many  years  the  woof  and  web  of  the  fabric  which 
had  formed  the  Southern  man's  home  and  his  industrial  world,  meant 
such  a  breaking  up  of  established  ideas  and  methods  and  beliefs  that 
the  stoutest  heart  quailed  at  the  mere  thought  of  what  such  a  move- 
ment might  mean. 

But  now  the  entire  complexion  of  things  was  changed.  Stephen  A. 
Douglas,  the  member  of  Congress  during  the  period  of  Mr.  Lincoln's 
congressional  service,  and  who  had  since  remained  continually  in  Con- 
gress as  the  distinguished  and  brilliant  member  from  Illinois,  was  the 
responsible  author  of  that  important  and  disgraceful  bill  which,  if 
passed,  would  disregard  the  compromise  made  in  1820,  barring  slavery 
from  the  Northwest.  Under  such  an  enactment  as  Mr.  Douglas  pro- 
posed certain  Territories,  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  would  then  be  free  to 
choose  whether  they  would  have  slavery  as  an  institution  or  not. 


MR.  LINCOLN  IN  CONGRESS.  123 

AN    EARLY    VERDSCT 

Mr.  Lincoln  felt  that  the  intent  of  the  bill  ^was,  without  doubt,  to 
force  slavery  upon  the  Territories  and  thus  make  it  impossible  for  them 
ever  to  become  free  States.  Mr.  Lincoln  reasoned  that  if  this  were  so, 
then  the  greatest  political  crime  of  the  age  had  been  committed  and 
so  he  said,  "There  is  to  be  no  peace  on  the  slavery  question  until  either 
freedom  or  slavery  shall  triumph."  Mr.  Lincoln's  great  soul  was 
wrought  up  to  the  highest  pitch  of  indignation  and  he  determined  the 
people,  of  his  own  section  at  least,  should  understand  the  iniquity  of 
such  a  political  crime.  Challenging  Mr.  Douglas  to  open  debate,  he 
made  the  subject  of  discussion  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill.  When  Mr. 
Douglas  returned  to  Chicago,  the  city  of  his  adoption,  he  met  with  such 
a  vigorous  protest  from  the  leading  men  of  his  party  that  he  knew  he 
had  made  a  fatal  mistake,  but  he  tried  to  overthrow  public  opinion  by 
speaking  at  various  towns  in  the  State. 

In  September  of  1854  Mr.  Douglas  found  himself  in  Springfield.  The 
State  fair  was  in  operation  and  he  took  this  occasion  to  speak  to  the 
large  concourse  of  people  in  attendance. 

Mr.  Douglas  was  a  man  known  to  the  whole  nation,  and  was  the 
recognized  leader  of  his  party  in  Illinois.  He  was  experienced  in  debate, 
had  great  ability,  strong  will  and  unconquerable  ambitions;  all  these 
characteristics  made  him  a  dangerous  antagonist  to  other  than  his 
equal  or  superior. 

Mr.  Lincoln,  compared  with  Mr.  Douglas,  was  inexperienced;  he  was 
unknown  to  the  country,  save  in  his  own  State;  was  slow  of  speech,  and 
up  to  the  present  time  devoid  of  brilliant  action.  He  was  known  far 
and  wide  throughout  the  State  as  Honest  Abe,  the  backwoodsman,  but 
his  oratory  had  hitherto  remained  unchallenged  and  his  speeches  had 
been  confined  to  less  important  issues. 

REPLY  TO  DOUGLAS*  SPEEOH 

On  the  day  following  the  speech  of  Mr.  Douglas,  Abraham  Lincoln, 
who  had  listened  to  him,  replied,  and  the  former  speaker  was  present. 
Mr.  Lincoln  began  by  saying  that  he  intended  to  tell  the  people  the 


124  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

truth,  for  to  that  they  were  entitled,  and  further  remarked  that  if  Judge 
Douglas  should  catch  him  saying  anything  that  was  untrue,  he  was 
at  liberty  to  correct  him.  This  willingness  on  the  part  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  for  fair  play  was  turned  against  him  by  Mr.  Douglas,  who 
interrupted  him  continually,  not  because  the  speaker  had  made  any 
false  statement,  but  simply  for  the  purpose  of  breaking  down  his 
antagonist. 

Mr.  Lincoln  humored  this  ungentlemanly  behavior  and  answered  all 
of  Mr.  Douglas'  criticisms.  At  last  Mr.  Lincoln  could  no  longer  bear  the 
annoyance,  and  he  reproved  Mr.  Douglas  by  saying:  "Gentlemen,  I 
cannot  afford  to  spend  my  time  in  quibbles.  I  take  the  responsibility 
of  asserting  the  truth  myself,  relieving  Judge  Douglas  from  the  neces- 
sity of  his  impertinent  corrections." 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  permitted  to  proceed  without  further  interruption, 
and  at  the  close  of  his  speech  the  assembly  gave  abundant  evidence  of 
its  appreciation. 

THE    HOUSE    STILL    AS    DEATH 

The  Springfield  Journal  described  the  occasion  in  the  following 
language:  "He,"  meaning  Mr.  Lincoln,  "quivered  with  feeling  and 
emotion.  The  whole  house  was  as  still  as  death.  He  attacked  the  bill 
with  unusual  warmth  and  energy,  and  all  felt  that  a  man  of  strength 
was  its  enemy,  and  that  he  intended  to  blast  it  if  he  could  by  strong 
and  manly  efforts.  He  was  most  successful;  and  the  house  approved 
the  glorious  triumph  of  truth  by  loud  and  long-continued  huzzas. 
Women  waved  their  handkerchiefs  in  token  of  woman's  silent  but  heart- 
felt consent. 

"Mr.  Lincoln  exhibited  Douglas  in  all  the  attitudes  he  could  be  placed 
in  friendly  debate.  He  exhibited  the  bill  in  all  its  aspects,  to  show  its 
humbuggery  and  falsehoods,  and  when  thus  torn  to  rags,  cut  into  slips, 
held  up  to  the  gaze  of  the  vast  crowd,  a  kind  of  scorn  was  visible  upon 
the  face  of  the  crowd  and  upon  the  lips  of  the  most  eloquent  speaker. 
At  the  conclusion  of  the  speech,  every  man  felt  that  it  was  unanswer- 
able— that  no  human  power  could  overthrow  it  or  trample  it  underfoot. 
The  long  and  repeated  applause  evinced  the  feelings  of  the  crowd,  and 


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Appointed  commanding  general  of  all  the  armies  by  President  Lincoln  in  1864. 


MR,  LINCOLN  IN  CONGRESS.  125 

gave  token  of  universal  assent  to  Lincoln^s  whole  argument;  and  eveijj 
mind  present  did  homage  to  the  man  who  took  captive  the  heart,  and 
broke  like  a  sun  over  the  understanding." 

When  Mr.  Lincoln  concluded  his  speech,  Mr.  Douglas  hastened  to 
mount  the  stand  and  made  the  statement  that  he  had  been  abused, 
"though  in  a  perfectly  courteous  manner."  He  continued  to  speak  until 
adjournment  for  supper,  but  knew  in  his  heart  that  he  had  made  a 
failure  of  the  whole  business. 

A    WONDERFUL    SPECTACLE 

What  a  wonderful  spectacle.  The  man  of  refinement,  culture,  edu- 
cation, position  and  fame  worsted  by  a  "common  man  of  the  people." 
It  only  goes  to  show  that  no  matter  how  falsehood  and  injustice  is 
coated  and  veneered  with  the  semblance  of  reality,  right  will  at  last 
prevail,  and  the  everlasting  and  enduring  truth  is  generally  discovered 
and  dug  out  of  the  mire  and  mud  by  an  honest  and  faithful  toiler. 

Mr.  Lincoln,  as  well  as  his  friends,  were  now  convinced  of  his  power 
and  strength,  and  the  excitement  of  success  and  the  triumph  of  right 
over  wrong  uplifted  and  filled  the  man  with  a  vigor  and  exaltation  of 
conviction. 

He  had  partaken  of  the  "strong  wine"  of  righteous  doing,  but  he  was 
not  drunken  therewith,  only  exhilarated  and  free. 

The  little  giant,  as  Mr.  Douglas  was  called,  went  to  Peoria,  111.,  and 
to  that  place  Mr.  Lincoln  followed  him,  and  again,  as  at  Springfield, 
challenged  him  to  debate.  At  Peoria  the  victory  for  Abraham  Lincoln 
was  more  marked  than  at  Springfield. 

DOUGLAS    STUNNED 

Mr.  Douglas  seemed  stunned  with  the  crushing  blows  that  Mr.  Lin- 
coln dealt,  and  so  wonderful  was  the  "backwoodman's"  power  over  the 
audience  that  Judge  Douglas  did  not  attempt  to  reply  to  Mr.  Lincoln'^ 
speech. 

It  should  be  remembered  by  all  aspiring  young  men  that  Mr.  IJlncoln 
did  not  reach  the  zenith  of  his  oratorical  fame  by  any  of  the  trickery 


Ub  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

that  tlie  stump  speaker  usually  resorts  to.  He  was  always  in  earnest 
and  closely  followed  his  subject,  never  swerving  from  his  idea  concern- 
ing the  truth  of  the  question  up  for  debate.  To  be  sure  he  told  stories, 
many  stories,  and  very  humorous  and  pithy  ones.  He  never  told  them 
for  the  mere  purpose  of  amusing  the  crowd,  but  always  with  the  intent 
of  illustrating  some  vital  point.  The  real  issue  was  never  lost  sight  of, 
and  he  never  undertook  to  raise  a  false  notion  or  attempted  to  dodge 
the  real  issue.  His  words  were  always  plain  and  contained  no  pyro- 
technical  display,  but  he  covered  the  field,  and  their  meaning  was  never 
foggy;  always  clear  and  understandable. 

Mr.  Lincoln  wished  to  continue  these  discussions  between  himself 
and  Mr.  Douglas,  throughout  the  State,  but  Mr.  Douglas  felt  that  he 
had  had  enough  for  a  while  at  least,  and  so  expressed  himself.  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  did  not,  however,  feel  inclined  to  abandon  his  purpose,  and 
therefore  made  several  other  speeches  which  produced  a  political  revo- 
lution. 

FURTHER  HONORS 

During  his  absence  from  Springfield  and  while  he  was  engaged  in 
making  these  political  speeches,  the  people  of  his  own  district  had 
placed  his  name  for  nomination,  without  his  consent,  and  again  he  was 
elected.  Again  he  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  but  the  honor  was 
not  accepted.    He  resigned  without  taking  his  seat. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  steadily  and  slowly,  but  surely,  climbing  the 
ladder  of  fame.  He  was,  however,  the  same  humble  and  unassuming 
man.  He  had  not  acquired  wealth,  he  had  no  possessions.  The  same 
simple  habits  were  kept  up;  his  home  was  unaffected  but  hospitable. 
He  had  sons,  little  boys,  and  they  were  very  dear  to  him.  It  was  a 
common  sight  to  see  the  tall,  ungainly  man  wheeling  through  the  streets 
of  his  city  a  baby  carriage  containing  a  robust  but  uneasy  infant,  while 
with  the  disengaged  hand  he  pulled  along  a  small  cart  in  which  another 
healthy  but  older  child  was  riding.  Even  at  this  period  of  his  career 
he  filled  the  position  of  maid-of-all-work,  and  was  often  seen  helping 
Ais  wife  with  the  household  duties.    He  never  became  too  great  or  too 


MR.  LINCOLN  IN  CONGRESS.  137 

proud  to  lend  a  helping  hand,  no  matter  how  insignificant  op  common 
the  work,  and  the  service  was  never  too  menial  for  him  to  render  it. 

THE    FAMOUS    SPEECH 

On  May  29,  1856,  we  find  Abraham  Lincoln  attending  a  convention 
at  Bloomington,  111.,  and  with  the  powerful  assistance  of  this  now  truly 
great  man  the  Republican  party  was  organized. 

From  the  date  of  this  meeting,  Mr.  Lincoln  felt  that  a  party  had 
been  organized  to  whose  platform  he  could  give  his  honest  support.  He 
had  become  very  pronounced  in  opinion  concerning  the  rights  of  the 
black  man,  and  upon  this  occasion  he  made  a  speech  full  of  power  and 
eloquence.  One  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  biographers  makes  the  following  state- 
ment: "Never  was  an  audience  more  completely  electrified  by  human 
eloquence.  Again  and  again,  during  the  progress  of  its  delivery,  they 
sprang  to  their  feet  and  upon  the  benches,  and  testified  by  long  and 
continued  shouts  and  the  waving  of  hats  how  deeply  the  speaker  had 
wrought  upon  their  minds  and  hearts." 

Abraham  Lincoln  thus  proclaimed  his  ever  strongest  characteristic, 
— protection,  support  and  sympathy  for  the  weak  and  defenseless.  The 
tender  and  loving  heart  of  the  boy  would  not  let  him  stand  idly  by  and 
offer  no  assistance  to  the  helpless.  The  strong  and  vigorous  man  could 
not  resist  the  suppliant's  appeal,  and  now  the  black  man  had  gained  a 
staunch  and  fearless  champion. 

THE    ABSORBING    QUESTION 

This  act  of  recognition  by  Abraham  Lincoln  was  but  the  forerunner 
of  greater  and  more  powerful  deeds,  when  his  simple  spoken  words] 
broke  the  shackles  of  slavery,  and  four  million  bondmen  stood  erect  as 
freemen  of  the  common  soil. 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  now  regarded,  not  only  by  the  Republicans  of 
Illinois,  but  by  all  the  Western  States,  as  their  first  man.  ITis  name 
was  presented  to  the  national  convention  as  their  candidate  for  the 
Vice-Presidency.  He  was  defeated  on  the  informal  ballot,  and  this  of 
course  decided  the  matter  against  him,  but  the  vote  was  a  great  com- 


128  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

pliment  to  this  common  son  of  the  Western  soil,  and  was  really  his 
formal  introduction  to  the  nation. 

From  this  time  to  the  close  of  his  life  he  was  almost  entirely  ab- 
sorbed in  political  affairs. 

Mr.  Lincoln's  hatred  of  slavery  had  been  constantly  growing.  He 
was  the  exponent  of  a  party  whose  avowed  purpose  it  was  "to  resist 
the  extension  of  slaver^^  and  to  shut  it  up  in  the  territory  where  it 
held  its  only  rights  under  the  Constitution,"  and  thus  he  felt  himself 
more  of  a  free  man  in  politics  than  ever  before. 

The  slavery  question  was  now  the  great  absorbing  question  of  Mr. 
Lincoln's  life.  He  threw  himself  into  it  and  attacked  it  with  all  the 
vigor  and  strength  of  his  great  and  powerful  nature.  He  said,  "I  shall 
speak  for  freedom  and  against  slavery  as  long  as  the  Constitution 
of  my  country  guarantees  free  speech,  until  everywhere  on  this  wide 
land,  the  sun  shall  shine  and  the  rain  shall  fall  and  the  wind  shall  blow 
upon  no  man  who  goes  forth  to  unrequited  toil." 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  NEIGHBORS'  VERDICT 

OUR  custodian  proved  to  be  faithful  and  efficient,  and  there  now 
seemed  no  danger  in  leaving  the  ^^cabin"  to  his  entire  care  and 
protection.     Therefore  I  began  to  plan  a  series  of  rides  about 
the  country  for  the  purpose  of  interviewing   the   old   neighbors   and 
friends  and  relatives  of  the  Lincolns. 

A    DISCOVERY    IS    MADE 

Finding  Mr.  Hall  in  a  particularly  good  humor  on  the  morning  of 
my  eighth  day's  sojourn,  I  suggested  to  him  that  he  needed  more  rec- 
reation; a  change  would  be  both  beneficial  and  pleasurable,  and  im- 
mediately I  began  to  arrange  for  the  different  excursions  that  I  had 
mentally  arranged.  My  proposition  startled  him.  He  flatly  refused  t(> 
spend  so  much  time  in  "chasing  around  after  old  women's  stories."  1 
explained  more  fully,  and  candidly  acknowledged  that  his  consent  to 
my  plans  would  give  me  great  pleasure.  Mr.  Hall  hesitated,  but  final- 
ly said:  "Wall,  if  I  hed  a  buggy  I'd  like  to  take  ye.  I  low  I'm  a 
good  deal  like  Grandpap  Lincoln,  poor  and  unfortunite."  Should  I 
permit  so  commonplace  an  object  as  a  "buggy"  to  interfere  with  my 
"sight-seeing?"  No,  indeed,  and  a  suggestion  that  almost  anyone  of 
the  good  neighbors  would  loan  us  a  vehicle  finally  succeeded  in  im- 
pressing Mr.  Hall  with  the  same  idea.  Still  he  debated  and  seemed 
exceedingly  reluctant  to  undertake  such  an  errand.  I  did  not  give  up, 
but  continued  to  urge  the  matter.  Finally  a  discovery  was  made.  Mr. 
Hall  did  not  wish  to  secure,  even  from  a  neighbor,  a  buggy  without  pay- 
ing for  the  use  of  it.  That  objection  being  overcome  by  promising  to 
pay  the  bill  myself.  Uncle  John  at  once  departed  and  slowly  descended 
the  hill  toward  the  little  village  of  Farmington. 

129 


130  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

GIT    READY,    WOMAN 

His  return  was  anxiously  awaited,  and  when  I  discovered  him  ap- 
proaching the  house  I  fairly  trembled  with  a  nervous  dread  that  he 
might  not  have  been  successful.  Not  a  word  passed  between  us.  He 
entered  the  gate,  walked  to  the  rear  of  the  house  and  disappeared  within 
the  barn.  My  curiosity  was  whetted  to  intensity.  The  large  barn  door 
swung  open  with  a  bang  and  a  span  of  mules  appeared  with  harness 
on.  Mr.  Hall  sang  out,  "Git  ready,  woman,  and  we'll  be  off  in  right 
smart  time."  My  expectations  and  desires  were  soon  to  be  realized,  a 
week  of  seclusion  and  retirement  from  the  busy  world  had  rendered 
me  childishly  joyous,  and  I  awaited  Mr.  HalPs  return  with  an  almost 
nervous  anxiety,  imagining  that  he  might  not  after  all  be  prepared  to 
take  the  outlined  trip. 

Mr.  Hall  soon,  however,  "hove  in  sight,"  seated  in  a  real  old  "demo- 
crat," cracking  his  whip  with  the  vigor  of  a  much  younger  man.  We 
were  now  on  our  way  to  Charleston,  a  small  town  nine  miles  northeast 
of  the  old  cabin. 

MIGHTY    DEEP    AND    ROARING 

The  day  was  hot  and  dusty,  and  the  mules  were  allowed  to  drag 
themselves  leisurely  along.  Notwithstanding  all  these  drawbacks  I 
enjoyed  the  trip  and  as  place  after  place  was  pointed  out  to  me  that  was 
in  some  way  connected  with  the  early  life  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  my  ride  be- 
came exceedingly  interesting.  We  crossed  Indian  Creek  and  the  Kick- 
apoo,  which  used  to  be,  so  said  Uncle  John,  "mighty  deep  and  roarin' 
wide,"  but  now  a  mere  ribbon  and  so  narrow  in  many  places  that  one 
was  surprised  to  find  a  rippling  flow  still  further  on. 

THE    TRIP    TO    CHARLESTON 

We  reached  Charleston  at  noon.  The  town  was  dead,  not  sleeping, 
and  really  appeared  to  have  died  an  untimely  death.  The  streets  were 
deserted  and  the  sun's  hot  rays  in  actual  loneliness  glinted  here  and 
there,  hoping  to  melt,  by  chance,  some  unwary  straggler. 

Newcomers  and  visitors,  especially  at  this  season  of  the  year,  were 


THE  NEIGHBORS'  VERDICT,    .  131 

so  rare  that  our  arrival  was  widely  observed,  and  when  the  ne  w«  spread 
about  the  little  community  that  a  woman  connected  with  tie  press  of 
'Chicago,  and  engaged  in  the  interests  of  "The  Lincoln  Log  Cabin  Asso- 
ciation," had  come  to  town,  questions  and  information  poured  in  from 
all  directions. 

THE    OLD    COURT    HOUSE 

The  town  of  Charleston  is  full  of  associations  connected  with  Mr. 
Lincoln.  He  was  a  familiar  figure  on  the  streets.  The  country  stores 
were  his  lounging  places,  where  the  loitering  community  gathered  to 
hear  his  quaint  and  humorous  stories.  The  law  ofifices  were  often  honored 
with  his  presence;  the  dilapidated  old  court  house  that  stands  in  the 
center  of  the  square  on  which  the  business  portion  of  the  town  faces 
was  the  scene  of  many  a  legal  battle  in  which  Mr.  Lincoln  played  a 
conspicuous  part. 

Charleston  was  then,  as  in  former  years,  politically  opposed  to  Mr. 
Lincoln,  and  many  things  were  told  me  defamatory  of  him  and  his 
family.  Some  of  his  relatives  who  live  here  still  displayed  more  malice 
than  strangers,  and  why?    Simply  because  he  did  his  duty  as  he  saw  it. 

Charleston  has  a  place  in  the  nation's  history  and  all  on  account  of 
a  riot  that  took  place  in  the  court  house  yard,  where  several  citizens 
were  killed  and  wounded.  The  evidences  of  the  struggle  are  still  to 
be  seen  and  are  always  pointed  out  and  explained  to  sightseers. 

During  the  Rebellion  when  war  and  carnage  filled  the  land  with  a 
nameless  terror  and  the  nation  was  sorrowing  for  her  slaughtered  sons, 
this  riotous  scene  took  place.  Of  course  I  was  anxious  to  hear  all  about 
the  particulars  and  through  my  own  observation  see  the  telltale  evi- 
dences; Uncle  John  and  I  sauntered  into  the  yard,  where  the  bullets  are 
tetill  embedded  in  a  tree  close  by  the  court  house.  We  went  into  the 
queer  old-fashioned  building  and  here  I  found  a  relative  of  Mr.  Lin- 
coln's who  volunteered  to  show  me  about  and  to  also  point  out  the  very 
exact  spots  "that  Uncle  Abe  had  stood  on."  The  brief  tour  of  inspec- 
tion was  very  interesting  and  when  we  came  out  of  the  court  house 
I  begged  Mr.  Hall  to  give  me  an  account  of  the  riot.  He  appeared  to  be 
quite  eager  to  impart  the  information  and  at  once  said: 


132  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

THE    RIOT 

"Wall,  now,  Pll  hev  to  tell  ye  all  about  it  and  then  ye'll  know  how 
Uncle  Dennis  Hanks  got  in  to  see  Uncle  Abe,  after  he  got  to  be  Presi- 
dent. During  the  war  things  got  purtj  hot  over  to  Charleston  and  the 
copperheads  got  sassy.  One  day  Colonel  York  wus  makin^  a  speech  in 
the  court  house  yard  because  Captain  Mitchell  wus  takin'  his  company 
off  to  the  train  to  go  to  war.  While  the  crowd  wus  all  gathered  there 
a  wagon-load  of  these  yere  Southern  sympathizers  drew  up  and  begun 
to  pick  a  quarrel.  Their  wagon  wus  full  of  straw  and  in  the  bottom  of 
it  wus  a  lot  of  guns.  Hard  words  wus  said,  and  Colonel  York  wus  shot 
and  killed.  William  Hart  wus  killed,  tu,  and  one  of  the  copperheads, 
Jesse  Cooper,  wus  killed,  tu,  and  several  others  wounded.  Wall,  you 
know  the  government  tried  the  fellers  who  did  the  killin'  and  sent  them 
all  off  to  the  Dry  Tortagus. 

THE    APPEAL 

"After  a  while  the  friends  of  these  men  got  Colonel  Ficklin 
of  Charleston  to  go  down  to  Washington  and  get  Uncle  Abe  to  let 
'em  off.  Colonel  Ficklin  knowed  Uncle  Abe  jest  like  a  book  and  he 
said  he  w^us  sure  he'd  get  the  men  released,  so  down  he  goes  as  peart 
as  you  please  and  told  the  story  to  Uncle  Abe.  Uncle  Abe  wus 
orful  glad  to  see  him  and  when  Colonel  Ficklin  hed  told  the  yarn  Uncle 
Abe  jest  says  to  him,  ses  he,  ^I  think  a  heap  of  you  because  you  like  your 
mother  so  well  and  take  care  of  her,  though  we  are  on  different  sides 
of  politics.'  Then  Uncle  Abe  asked  him  to  name  over  the  fellers  who 
had  ben  sent  to  the  Dry  Tortagus,  and  when  he  come  to  the  name  of 
young  Winkler,  who  use  to  be  one  of  Uncle  Abe's  boy  friends,  he  said: 
^I  did  not  expect  anything  better  of  him  because  he  always  spelled 
everything  backwards.'  And  then  he  told  him  he  guessed  he  would 
let  'em  stay  there  a  little  longer.  So  Colonel  Ficklin  hed  to  come  back 
without  getting  any  of  the  boys  off,  and  would  you  believe  it.  Uncle 
Dennis  Hanks  up  and  said  he'd  bet  ten  ag'in  one  that  he  could  get  in 
to  see  the  President. 


THE  NEIGHBORS'  VERDICT.  133 

UNCLE    DENNIS    BRAGS 

"Uncle  Dennis  made  sech  big  brags  that  some  of  the  citizens  of 
Charleston  said:  ^Hanks,  we  will  give  you  twelve  hundred  dollars  if 
you'll  get  the  boys  off.' "  Interrupting  Mr.  Hall  I  thrust  upon  him  the 
hasty  question,  did  he  secure  the  release  of  the  prisoners?  "Sho, 
woman,  don't  be  in  tu  big  a  stew,  I'll  take  ye  down  to  see  Uncle  Dennis 
and  he'll  tell  you  the  story  himself,  fur  he's  orful  proud  of  what  he  did. 
He  likes  to  tell  it  over  and  over  ag'in."  Looking  at  me  with  a  merry 
twinkle  in  his  eye,  Mr.  Hall  said:  "He's  allers  a  adding  each  time  some 
new  part  that  we  hadn't  heerd  before." 

Of  course  I  was  impatient  and  wanted  to  start  for  Uncle  Dennis' 
at  once,  but  when  Mr.  Hall  informed  me  that  his  relative  lived  down 
at  Paris  I  knew  that  I  must  postpone  the  trip  until  some  future  day. 
This  fact  made  me  feel  very  uneasy,  as  Mr.  Hanks  was  then  ninety-one 
years  old,  and  I  realized  that  delay  was  dangerous. 

Mr.  Hall  noticed  my  disappointment  and  sought  to  comfort  me  by 
telling  in  his  own  peculiar  way  and  earnest  manner  "a  story  of  the 


war": 


SENTENCED  TO  BE  SHOT 


"Onct  during  the  war,"  he  said,  "when  Charley  Conzert,  who  wus 
born  and  raised  in  a  tavern  down  in  Greenup,  deserted  from  the  army, 
Captain  Talbot  was  sent  to  capture  him,  and  the  Captain  stayed 
all  night  with  me  in  the  ^old  log  cabin.'  Grandmarm  Lincoln,  when  she 
found  what  wus  goin'  on,  begun  to  cry  about  Uncle  Abe,  and  said: 
^Them  fellers  are  cuttin'  up  and  actin'  so  dreadful,  some  of  them  will  kill 
him,  cause  he'll  do  right  though  he  knowed  he  wus  goin'  to  be  shot 
the  next  minute.'  The  next  mornin'  I  hitched  up  and  took  the  Captain 
and  Charley  down  to  Charleston  and  those  fellers  (copperheads  I  call 
'em)  who  hed  their  Golden  Circle  lacked  only  one  vote  of  takin'  me  out 
and  hangin'  me  to  a  tree  cause  I'd  delivered  up  the  prisoner.  Wall, 
Charley  wus  tried  and  sentenced  to  be  shot,  but  Uncle  Abe  saved  him 
fur  he  promised  to  go  back  into  the  war  ag'in  and  be  a  good  soldier, 
and  then  Uncle  Abe  said  to  some  of  the  big  fellers  down  to  Washington, 


134:  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

'Charley  used  to  be  a  neighbor  of  mine  and  I  know  what  kind  of  stuff 
he's  made  of.  HeMl  do  as  he  says.'  So  he  let  him  go  and  Uncle  Abe'si 
words  proved  true.  After  Uncle  Abe  wus  killed  and  many  a  time 
sence  Charley  Conzert  has  sent  word  to  us  that  he  thought  so  much  of 
Uncle  Abe  cause  he  saved  him  that  he'd  lay  down  his  life  fur  any  of  his 
blood  kin." 

During  the  afternoon  we  called  upon  several  of  the  relatives  who 
would  give  me  no  information,  except  upon  a  paying  basis.  I  also  dis- 
covered that  even  those  that  had  held  offices  under  Mr.  Lincoln's  admin- 
istration seemed  to  have  forgotten  the  ways  and  mannerisms  of  their 
distinguished  dead  relative,  and  expressed  very  few  kind  words  for  the 
great  man. 

LINCOLN^S    PREFERRED    POSITION 

After  dinner  we  called  upon  Mrs.  Colonel  O.  W.  Ficklin,  whose  hus- 
band was  a  most  intimate  friend  of  Mr.  Lincoln.  Her  greeting  was 
cordial  and  friendly  and  under  her  guidance  we  called  upon  several  old 
citizens  who  had  known  the  lamented  and  martyred  chieftain.  Among 
the  very  few  reminiscences  collected  from  them  was  the  following, 
related  by  Mr.  Abram  Highland,  who  said:  "Mr.  Ficklin  and  Mr.  Lin- 
coln were  often  pitted  against  each  other  in  their  profession,  both  hav- 
ing a  large  law  practice  in  our  district.  Upon  a  certain  occasion,  the 
case  being  one  of  considerable  importance  although  it  was  held  in  a 
very  small  and  dilapidated  school  house  out  in  the  country,  Mr,  Lincoln 
was  compelled  to  stoop  very  much  in  order  to  enter  the  door  and  the 
seats  were  so  low  that  he  doubled  up  his  legs  like  a  jack-kii?fe.  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  obliged  to  sit  upon  a  school  bench  and  just  in  front  of  him 
was  another,  making  the  distance  between  him  and  the  seat  m  front  of 
him  very  narrow  and  uncomfortable.  His  position  was  almost  unbear- 
able and  in  order  to  carry  out  his  preference  which  he  secured  as  often 
as  possible,  and  that  was  'to  sit  as  near  to  the  jury  as  convenient,'  he 
took  advantage  of  his  discomfort  and  said  to  the  justice,  'Your  Honor, 
with  your  permission  I'll  sit  up  nearer  to  the  gentlemen  of  the  jury,  for 
it  hurts  my  legs  less  to  rub  my  calves  against  the  bench  than  Vt,  does 
to  skin  my  shins.' " 


THE  NEIGHBORS'  VERDICT,  -  135 

THE    WEIGHT    OF    THREE    HOGS 

A  quotation  from  a  personal  communication  to  the  same  party  was 
also  repeated.  The  letter  was  chiefly  upon  the  political  issues  of  the 
times,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  said:  "We  now  have  three  parties  in  the  field, 
the  Kepublican,  the  Democratic,  and  the  Knownothing;  but  it  is  just 
as  easy  to  prophesy  the  result  of  the  election  as  it  is  to  count  the  weight 
of  three  hogs." 

LINOOLN'S    OOUSIN 

Before  our  departure  for  home  we  walked  around  to  the  house  of 
Mrs.  Tom  Darling,  a  cousin  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  and  from  her  heard 
nothing  but  words  of  praise  for  the  good  man.  Mrs.  Darling  told  us 
that  the  first  letter  she  ever  wrote  was  addressed  to  Mr.  Lincoln  and  his 
reply  was  very  kind,  full  of  wise  counsel  and  loving  words. 

After  Mr.  Lincoln  was  married  and  little  children  came  into  his 
life  he  sent  for  this  cousin  to  come  to  Springfield  and  help  his  wife 
take  care  of  the  little  ones. 

Mrs.  Darling  was  at  the  Lincoln  home  for  quite  a  year.  Her  account 
of  the  many  kind  acts  that  Mr.  Lincoln  bestowed  upon  her  was  but 
additional  testimony  to  his  greatness  of  heart 

GITTING    HYSTERICKY 

Late  in  the  afternoon  we  started  homeward.  Again  the  ride  was 
most  enjoyable,  and  again  my  host  related  many  anecdotes  of  his  rela- 
tives. As  the  twilight  shadows  deepened  I  became  uncomfortable  and 
imagined  the  departed  were  hovering  near,  and  so  uncomfortable  was 
the  feeling  that  I  suggested  the  mules  be  forced  into  a  trot  at  least  that 
we  might  not  be  overtaken  by  the  darkness. 

Uncle  John  Hall  smiled  and  accused  me  of  getting  "hystericky  ag'in.'^ 
"I'll  chirk  ye  up  right  smart  with  a  circus  story,"  he  said,  and  at  once 
proceeded  to  tell  the  following: 

THE    CIRCUS    STORY 

"In  the  year  1835,  one  time  when  Uncle  Abe  was  in  Charleston,  he 
thought  he'd  jest  look  around  and  see  what  the  ^^u^cus  amounted  to. 


136  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

This  wus  the  first  that  ever  showed  up  at  Charleston,  so  he  went  down 
by  the  big  tent  and  when  he  seed  the  little  one  for  the  performers  to 
dress  in  he  ast  one  of  the  circus  fellers  what  that  side  pocket  wus  fur, 
and  all  the  time  he  never  cracked  a  smile  but  wus  jest  as  ser'ous  as  a 
deacon.  When  the  feller  told  Uncle  Abe  what  it  wus  fur  he  jest  winked 
one  eye  and  crossed  his  legs." 

THE    MAPLE    SUGAR    PULL 

The  little  village  of  Farmington  was  just  ahead  of  us  and  Mr.  Hall 
suggested  that  we  drive  down  the  road  a  short  distance  and  call  on, 
some  of  the  old  neighbors.  I  gladly  consented  and  after  a  drive  of 
nearly  a  mile  we  drew  up  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Samuel  Ohowning,  who 
lived  nearly  opposite  the  little  cemetery  in  which  old  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lincoln  are  buried. 

We  found  the  master  of  the  house  absent  but  his  wife  who  had  lived 
near  neighbor  to  the  Lincoln  family  cordially  received  us  and  cheerfully 
related  the  following  little  episode: 

"In  the  spring  of  1833  when  I  wus  then  a  girl  of  only  sixteen  years 
Grandpap  Lincoln  as  usual  ^sugared  off,'  and  John  D.  Johnston  invited 
the  young  folks  to  come  over  some  evening,  when  Abe  Lincoln  wus  up 
to  the  old  home.  John  D.  Johnston  sent  us  word  that  Brother  Abe  had 
come  and  we  made  up  a  little  party.  Well,  John  D.  and  Abe  Lincoln 
took  me  across  the  river  in  a  canoe.  John  had  promised  us  young  folks 
some  taffy  and  purty  soon  he  said  to  Grandpap  Lincoln,  *I  want  some 
taffy  for  the  girls.'  You  know  John  D.  Johnston  was  mighty  good 
lookin'  and  awful  takin'  and  we  knowed  he'd  get  some  taffy  for  us.  We 
girls  didn't  care  much  about  Abraham  Lincoln,  though,  for  he  wus  so 
quiet  and  awkward  and  so  awful  homely,  and  he  never  made  up  to  the 
girls  anyhow,  so  none  of  'em  cared  about  asking  any  favors  of  him. 
Grandpap  Lincoln  wus  terrible  savin'  and  said,  'No,  John,  I  can't  have 
the  'lasses  wasted  that  I  have  worked  so  hard  to  get.'  But  Abe  Lincoln 
talked  to  John  D.  in  a  low  voice,  and  purty  soon  when  grandpap  had 
scooped  out  all  but  a  little  in  the  bottom  of  the  kettle,  John  D.  caught 
up  a  bucket  of  cold  water  and  throwed  it  into  the  kettle.  When  the 
sugar  rose  to  the  top  he  stuck  his  hands  in  and  pulled  it  all  out  in 


THE  NEIGHBORS'  VERDICT,  137 

a  lump  and  divided  it  among  us.  Of  course  we  all  laughed  and  shouted 
but  grandpap  only  stuck  his  lips  out  and  pouted  a  little  and  said, 
^John,  yer  allers  wastin'  somethin'.'  " 

MORE    OLD    NEIGHBORS 

We  tarried  a  few  moments  longer  and  again  Mr.  Hall  kindly  pro- 
posed a  ride  around  to  Janesville  and  said,  "Perhaps  we'll  see  some  more 
of  the  old  neighbors."  As  we  drove  through  the  small  burg,  many  eyes 
peered  curiously  at  us.  At  last  we  pulled  up  in  front  of  old  Mr.  Peter 
Furry's  house.  As  is  customary  in  this  locality  a  "Hallo,  neighbor!" 
brought  "the  man  of  the  house"  to  the  door,  while  the  entire  family 
without  further  ceremony  dashed  out,  and  the  younger  members  of  the 
household  perched  themselves  upon  the  rail  fence.  Our  errand  was 
made  known  and  Mr.  Furry,  a  pleasant  and  kind-hearted  old  farmer, 
was  delighted  to  tell  me  all  that  he  knew  about  the  Lincoln  family. 


re 


EVERYBODY    KNOWED    IT" 


Without  further  parley  he  began :  "Yes,  I  was  bom  and  raised  right 
near  to  Tommy  Lincoln's.  Pap's  farm  joined  his'n  and  so  you  see  I 
knowed  a  great  deal  about  the  old  gentleman.  They  wus  a  purty  shift- 
less set  the  whole  of  them,  even  Abraham  Lincoln,  who  was  afterwards 
the  President  of  the  United  States.  When  he'd  come  up  to  visit  the  old 
folks  he'd  lay  around  jest  like  the  rest;  go  barefoot,  get  out  under  a  tree 
and  lay  looking  into  the  sky  fur  half  a  day  at  a  time.  That  thare  cabin 
that  yere  going  to  write  about  w^us  as  full  of  human  critters  as  a  nut 
is  full  of  meat,  they  wus  a  jest  hanging  out  of  the  Avinders,  but  Abraham 
Lincoln  wus  somehow  giA^en  the  best  place  in  the  house  and  almost 
every  one  round  yere  looked  up  to  him.  He  had  the  respect  of  every- 
body and  yet  I  could  never  see  jest  how  he  got  it.  He  wasn't  proud 
nor  nothing  like  that,  he  seemed  to  be  no  more  nor  no  better  than  the 
rest  of  his  folks,  but  somehow  he  wus  and  everybody  knowed  it." 


ts 


BEEF    TO    MY    SORRER" 


After  questioning  the  old  man  concerning  the  inmates  of  the  house- 
hold he  replied:     "All  of  Grandmarm  Lincoln's  relatives  wus  there 


138  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

a  living  right  along  and  they  kept  old  man  Lincoln  in  a  heap  of  trouble. 
John  D.  Johnston,  that  wiis  her  boy,  wus  the  most  shiftless  and  good- 
for-nothing  feller  ye  ever  seed;  he  wus  no  good  no  how,  allers  a  gala- 
vanting  around  the  country  to  see  the  women  folks  and  disposing  of 
anything  that  wus  Grandpap  Lincoln's  without  ever  saying  by  your 
leave.  Why,  one  time  he  rode  off  on  the  old  horse,  the  only  one  they 
had,  and  wus  gone  two  or  three  days.  While  he  wus  aw^ay  he  traded 
off  the  horse  for  a  pair  of  young  steers.  Wall,  when  he  brought  'em 
home  it  wus  nigh  onto  ten  o'clock  and  all  the  family  hed  gone  to  bed. 
Anyhow,  John  D.  Johnston  wus  so  eternally  shiftless  and  didn't  like  to 
do  no  work  no  how,  he  jest  tied  the  steers  to  a  young  saplin';  they  wus 
yoked  together,  and  of  course  they  got  to  trampin'  around  in  the  night 
and  raisin'  cain,  and  when  Grandaddy  Lincoln  got  up  in  the  mornin' 
he  found  them  both  on  the  ground  ston'  dead.  He  wus  of  an  awful 
savin'  turn  of  mind  (everybody  knowed  that)  and  so  he  went  right  on 
takin'  off  their  hides.  By  that  time  I  went  along  by  there  and  when  I 
seed  the  old  man  skinnin'  the  critters  I  called  out  to  him  and  said,  ses  I 
(I  thought  I'd  plague  him  a  little),  *Got  some  beef,  Grandaddy?'  He 
didn't  look  up  but  jest  growled  out,  *Yes,  beef  to  my  sorrer.' " 

Though  this  homely  incident  was  pathetic  in  the  extreme,  yet  it  was 
so  ludicrous  that  we  all  joined  in  the  merriment  which  the  story  evoked, 
and  even  the  children,  hanging  on  the  gate,  appreciated  the  humor,  for 
the  youngest  tot  begged  grandpa  to  tell  another  "funny  story." 

THE    KEY    TO    LINCOLN^S    METAPHORS 

The  old  man  looked  up  with  a  twinkle  in  his  honest  blue  eyes  and 
asked  the  question,  "Will  all  that  I  say  go  into  the  paper?  If  so,  I 
ken  spin  out  as  many  yarns  as  you  want."  My  reply  to  his  question  in 
the  affirmative  actually  caused  Mr.  Furry  to  remove  his  old,  greasy  cap, 
the  good  wife  came  a  step  nearer  and  the  children  descended  from  their 
perches,  and,  coming  close  up  to  the  buggy,  eyed  me  with  keen  curiosity. 
Here  was  an  unthought  of  circumstance.  A  real  live  "writing  woman," 
and  at  their  own  house,  too. 

Again  the  old  gentleman  broke  out  and  related  the  following: 
"Ag'in,  one  time  when  I  wns  goin'  by,  I  seed  Grandaddy  Lincoln  out 


THE  NEIGHBORS'  VERDICT.  139 

grubbin'  up  some  hazelnut  bushes,  and  so  I  said  to  him:  Why,  Grand- 
pap,  I  thought  you  wanted  to  sell  your  farm?'  ^And  so  I  do,'  ses  he,  ^but  I 
haint  goin'  to  let  my  farm  know  it.' " 

Really  there  is  more  truth  than  poetry  in  the  above  homely  state- 
ment, and  its  wisdom  is  clearly  shown.  So  seemingly  unimportant  and 
commonplace  was  this  original  saying  of  Thomas  Lincoln's  that  the 
casual  observer  would  undoubtedly  have  passed  it  by  unheeded,  but 
that  very  quaint  expression  is  the  keynote  to  an  important  discovery, 
and  one  plainly  sees  from  what  source  Abraham  Lincoln  received  his 
peculiar  talent  for  apt  and  trite  sayings. 

A    GOOD    RELIGION 

The  old  gentleman  now  appeared  to  have  run  out  of  stories,  the 
evening  was  far  advanced  and  I  suggested  to  Mr.  Hall  that  we  had  bet- 
ter remain  no  longer  for  the  family  and  my  companion  would  no  doubt 
be  anxious  for  our  safety.  Evidently  Mr.  Furry  felt  he  had  not  fur- 
nished me  with  enough  newspaper  matter  to  make  him  immortal,  there- 
fore he  insisted  that  we  should  ^^git  out  of  the  buggy"  and  come  into 
the  house.  Accepting  his  kind  invitation,  but  insisting  that  we  could 
remain  but  a  very  little  while,  we  went  into  the  plain  old-fashioned 
house  and  awaited  developments.  Apparently  deep  in  thought  Mr. 
Furry  preserved  a  dignified  silence  for  a  moment,  then  with  a  sudden 
energy  that  fairly  startled  the  little  gathering  he  related  the  follow- 
ing: 

"Old  man  Lincoln  wus  quite  religious,  you  know;  why,  he  allers 
walked  dow^n  to  Charleston,  most  ten  miles  away,  every  Saturday  night. 
Stayed  there  all  day  Sunday  so  he  could  enjoy  both  the  mornin'  and 
evenin'  meetin's  and  then  walked  back  ag'in  Monday  mornin'.  I  don't 
think  Uncle  Abe  was  nigh  so  religious  as  his  father,  fur  he  didn't  belong 
to  no  church,  but  then  he  wus  mighty  good  and  allers  when  he  come 
down  to  see  the  old  folks  he^d  walk  over  from  Charleston  so  as  to  save 
payin'  for  a  team  because  he  wanted  to  give  'em  some  money  to  pay 
off  the  debt  on  the  old  home  and  a  little  besides  so  that  both  grandpap 
and  grandmarm  'ud  feel  a  little  independent.  Most  every  time  he  come 
to  see  'em  he'd  give  'em  ten  dollars,  and  onct  I  see  him  give  'em  two 


140  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

hundred  dollars.  Now,  to  my  thinkin',  that's  about  as  good  a  religion 
as  I  know  of — ^honor  your  father  and  mother/  if  one  of  'em  is  your 
stepmother.'^ 

MY    VOW 

After  some  further  conversation  we  thanked  him  for  his  kind  atten- 
tion and  really  interesting  information  and  departed.  A  pleasant  drive 
of  an  hour  or  more  brought  us  again  to  the  little  cottage.  Our  pro- 
tracted stay  and  the  lateness  of  the  hour  had  caused  the  family  so  much 
anxiety  that  our  arrival  was  hailed  with  joy.  Of  course  I  related  to 
the  family  the  adventures  of  the  day,  and  exacted  a  promise  from  my 
host  that  he  would  again  take  me  for  a  drive,  provided  he  could  obtain 
the  necessary  requisites.  A  thought  struck  me  and  I  silently  regis- 
tered a  vow,  that  before  my  taking  leave  of  this  kind-hearted  and  simple 
folk  something  should  be  done  to  make  existence  more  pleasurable 
and  thus  relieve  the  monotony  of  their  excessively  humdrum  life, 
especially  the  younger  members  of  the  family.  I  kept  my  vow  and 
afterwards  succeeded  in  bringing  to  the  household  some  of  the  modem 
comforts  and  conveniences  of  the  nineteenth  century.  Further  on  I 
Bhall  tell  my  readers  all  about  the  transaction  and  describe  the  startling 
state  of  affairs  that  came  about  through  its  accomplishment. 


HOME    OF   JOHN   HALL. 

This  cottage  on  the  Hillside  is  the  present  home  of  Uncle  John  Hall,  late  owner  of  the 

Lincoln  Log  Cabin, 


THE    FAMOUS    GRIND-STONE. 

The  above  picture  is  a  photograph  of  the  west  end  of  the  Lincoln  Log  Cabin,  showing  the 
old  grind-stone.    Upon  this  clumsy  and  rude  stone  Abraham  Lincoln  sharp- 
ened the  axe   which  split  the  famous   rails  that  were  used 
in  his  first  presidential  campaign. 


UNCLE   JOHN    HALL    AND    CHILDREN. 

Photograph  of  Uncle  John  Hall,  Abraham  Lincoln's  cousin,  his  daughter,  Sis,  and  his 

boys.  Bud,  Abe  and  Little  Joe. 


THE    AUTHOR    AT    WORK. 

Front  view  of  the  Lincoln  Log  Cabin,  showing  the  secretary  of  the  Lincoln  Log  Cabin 
Association,  the  stenographer,  the  superintendent  and  the  two  architects. 

The  face  at  the  broken  window  is  Abe  Hall,  the  nephew  of  Abraham  Lincoln. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

WHY  LINCOLN   NEVER  USED   PROFANE  LANGUAGE 

STILL  anticipating  and  longing  for  the  promised  visit  to  Uncle 
Dennis  Hanks  at  Paris,  I  tried  to  be  patient  and  pleasantly  excuse 
Mr.  HalPs  habits  of  procrastination  and  inability  to  arrange  for 
our  second  trip. 

The- days  were  hot,  the  air  was  oppressive  and  the  monotonous 
country  life  was  making  inroads  upon  my  spirits.  This  day  had  been 
a  particularly  trying  one,  and  we  had  been  so  uncomfortable  that 
life  was  almost  a  burden.  Evening  approached,  a  light  breeze  sprang  up, 
our  hearts  were  gladdened  and  our  spirits  revived.  We  betook  our- 
selves to  the  grassy  lawn  and  dreamy  moonlight.  Myriads  of  fireflies 
flitting  about  us  presented  a  charming  sight,  and  it  took  no  stretch  of 
imagination  to  fancy  we  were  dwelling  in  fairyland. 

Elfs,  gnomes  and  wonderful  giants  were  expected  and  talked  about 
A  form  appeared  in  the  doorway  of  the  little  cottage  and  the  "boggie 
man''  appeared,  not  a  cruel  one,  though,  and  said,  "Sho,  woman,  don't 
put  sech  nonsense  into  the  heads  of  the  young  folks,  ye'll  spile  'em." 

I  begged  Mr.  Hall  to  come  out  and  enjoy  with  us  the  beautiful  night 
and  tell  us  just  one  story  about  his  beloved  relatives.  He  refused  in  a 
rather  decided  tone,  but  when  ^Tdttle  Joe"  joined  in  and  pleaded  too, 
the  father  could  not  refuse.  He  took  this  opportunity  to  give  his  boys 
a  lesson  in  morals  and  told  them  their  Grandfather  Lincoln  never  swore, 
and  to  illustrate  he  related  the  following,  which  he  said  was  the  worst 
words  he  had  ever  heard  their  grandfather  use: 

A    GOOD    EXAMPLE 

"Your  Grandpap  Lincoln,"  he  said,  "never  used  no  slang  words,  no- 
how; but  he  hed  a  favorite  expression  which  he  allers  used  when  he 
wus  suprised  or  bothered,  and  that  wus,  ^By  dear!'  Uncle  John  D. 
Johnston  would  drop  an  ear  of  corn  on  the  ground  every  time  we  un- 

141 


142  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

loaded  jest  to  plague  grandpap,  and  he  would  say,  'By  dear!  John,  now 
shiftless  ye  are/  iWall,  down  at  the  cabin  he  allers  kept  his  seed  sweet 
potatoes  between  the  two  houses,  the  east  room  and  the  new  part.  He 
allers  packed  them  in  sand  and  I  liked  'em  so  much  when  a  boy  that  I'd 
eat  'em  raw  till  I  wus  fit  to  bust.  Grandpap,  when  he  ketched  me  at  it, 
he  would  allers  say,  *By  dear,  by  dear,  the  boy  will  eat  up  all  my  taters, 
and  I  won't  hev  none  for  plantin'.'  So  yer  can  see,  boys,  yer  hev  a  purty 
good  example  to  foller." 

An  emphasis  on  certain  words  and  the  significant  manner  with 
which  Mr.  Hall  related  this  brief  moral  lesson  led  me  to  believe  that 
he  had  a  particular  purpose  in  telling  his  boys  this  simple  little  inci- 
dent. My  suspicions  were  proven  when  young  Abe  said :  "Wall,  paw, 
didn't  Grandpap  Lincoln  never  swear,  nohow,  when,  he  wus  a  young 
feller?"  "I  am  sorry  to  say  that  he  did,"  said  Mr.  Hall,  "fur  grandpap 
hisself  told  me  he  used  to  rip  out  an  oath  every  time  he  got  mad,"  I 
felt  a  curiosity  to  know  how  this  bad  habit  had  been  remedied,  and  I 
asked  Uncle  John  Hall  if  he  knew  why  Mr.  Thomas  Lincoln  stopped 
swearing?  To  which  question  he  replied:  "I  reckon  I  du,  fur  grand- 
pap told  me.  When  they  wus  livin'  down  in  Kantucky  Uncle  Abe^s 
sister,  little  Sary  jest  spoke  right  out  one  day  with  a  right  bad  swear 
word,  and  Uncle  Abe's  mother  said,  Tather,  did  yer  hear  yer  little 
baby?'     He  never  swore  no  more,  nohow,  arter  that." 

SAYING    GRACE 

Mr.  Hall  pausea,  and,  fearing  he  would  request  us  to  retire^  I  said, 
"I  suppose  Mr.  Thomas  Lincoln's  first  wife  was  a  very  religious 
woman?"  "I  reckon  she  wus,"  said  Mr.  Hall;  "but  both  grandmarm 
and  grandpap  wus  awful  religious,  tu.  They  wus  awful  good  church 
members,  tu,  bein'  Baptists  away  long  back.  Then  they  jined  the 
Christians  or  Oampbellites.  We  allers  held  meetin'  in  the  east  room 
of  the  old  log  cabin,  and  Stanley  Walker,  who  used  to  live  in  Kantucky, 
ud  come  and  preach  every  fourth  Sunday.  Uncle  Abe  heard  him  a 
heap  uv  times,  tu,  in  the  old  log  house.  Grandpap  wus  so  terrible  re- 
ligious that  he  never  ud  eat  nothin',  nohow,  without  sayin'  grace,  and 
I  can  reckerlect  as  plain  as  can  be  jest  what  he  said.    It  wus  short,  but 


LINCOLN  AND  PROFANE  LANGUAGE,  143 

it  wus  allers  the  same,  and  he  never  failed  to  say  it,  Tit  and  prepare  us 
for  humble  sarvice.    Beg  fer  Christ's  sake.     Amen/  '' 

Mr.  Hall  could  not  say  enough  in  praise  of  the  religious  character 
of  his  relatives,  but  continued  to  relate  more  stories. 

"Both  Grandpap  and  Grandmarm  Lincoln  prayed  so  much,''  said 
he,  "that  they  hed  a  wonderful  power  about  'em  to  cure  folks.  Why, 
grandmarm  could  draw  out  fire  and  grandpap  could  cure  a  felon.  Folks 
would  come  for  ten  miles  around  to  get  grandpap  to  cure  'em,  and  all 
he'd  do  wus  jest  to  hold  the  sore  finger  in  his  hands  a  few  minutes  and 
say  somethin'  in  a  whisper,  and  every  time  he'd  cure  'em  shore  nuff. 
Grandmarm,  she  would  jest  lay  her  hand  on  the  burn  and  shet  up  her 
eyes  and  say  two  or  three  words  and  it  would  never  hurt  you  no  more. 
She  hes  drawed  the  fire  out  of  my  hands  lots  of  times,  and  onct  she  told 
me  that  if  she  told  arry  a  woman  she'd  never  hev  the  power  to  cure  no 
more,  but  that  if  she  told  a  man  it  wouldn't  make  no  difference,  and 
she  did  tell  me  afore  she  died  what  she  said  when  she  cured  'em,  but  I 
can't  tell  nobody." 

LIKE    UNCLE    ABE 

I  said  to  Uncle  John  Hall  that  it  was  a  lucky  circumstance  that  his 
people  did  not  live  at  the  time  of  the  Salem  witchcraft  agitation,  for 
they  would  surely  have  been  burned  at  the  stake.  This  allusion  to  that 
period  of  our  country's  history  proved  most  unfortunate,  for  I  was  com- 
pelled to  tell  the  young  people  the  story  of  the  Salem  witchcraft,  and 
its  recital  turned  the  tide  of  conversation. 

Coming  back  to  the  realities  of  the  time  and  place,  I  asked  Mr,  Hall 
to  kindly  relate  a  few  more  Lincoln  stories.  He  said,  "S^pose  I  should 
tell  yer  something  about  myself  and  grandpap,  would  yer  mind?" 

Of  course  I  was  pleased  to  hear  anything  that  might  contribute  to 
my  history  of  the  Lincolns  and  their  humble  home.  Convincing  Mr. 
Hall  of  my  sincerity  and  desire  to  hear  a  personal  story,  he  proceeded  by 
saying:  "Grandpap  wus  a  good  deal  like  Uncle  Abe,  allers  trying  to 
make  us  all  feel  happy  by  saying  somethin'  kind  or  giving  us  some 
little  present,  but  he  didn't  hev  quite  the  same  way  Uncle  Abe  did,  no- 
how.   When  he  got  to  be  an  old  man  he  didn't  hev  much  to  give  away, 


144  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

*cept  what  Uncle  Abe  let  him  hev,  nor  much  before  that  nuther,  1 
reckon. 

"The  only  medder  land  grandpap  hed  wns  two  acres  and  a  half  a 
little  north  of  the  house  in  the  east  forty.  But  he  said  to  me  one  day, 
^If  you  will  mow  the  medder  I'll  give  you  a  yo.'  I  was  seventeen  years 
old  then,  but  bein'  a  sickly  boy  all  my  life,  this  wus  the  first  mowing 
I  ever  tried  to  do,  I  wus  purty  well  tuckered  out,  but  grandpap  went 
around  behind  me  with  a  fork  and  tossed  the  grass  up  into  shocks.  I 
got  my  yo,  and  the  next  spring  she  found  three  lambs  for  me,  and  saved 
'em  all.  In  two  or  three  years  I  sold  ten  sheep  out  of  my  flock  at  |1.25 
a  piece,  and  so  you  see  I  got  quite  a  start.  When  I  talked  with  Uncle 
Abe  about  my  money  he  jest  said,  ^Now  you  can  get  married  and 
build  a  home  of  your  own.' " 

Before  I  could  interrupt  him  Mr.  Hall  again  repeated,  almost  word 
for  word,  what  he  had  told  me  before  concerning  Mr.  Lincoln's  visits  to 
his  people. 

BED    TIME    STORIES 

"Twice  a  year,"  he  said,  "Uncle  Abe  come  up  to  the  'old  log  cabin' 
and  would  stay  from  one  to  three  days  'cordin'  to  his  business,  and  allers 
when  he  come  he'd  bring  somethin'  every  time  for  grandmarm  and 
grandpap  and  Uncle  John  D.  Johnston  and  the  balance  of  the  family. 
He'd  spend  most  of  his  time  lookin'  around  the  old  place  and  out  in  the 
woods  huntin'  paw-paws  and  readin'  on  every  occasion.  Wall,  of  course 
all  the  old  neighbors  and  friends  would  come  in  when  they  heerd  he'd 
come  hum,  and  he'd  entertain  'em  tellin'  cur'ous  stories  till  bed  time. 
He  never  did  seem  no  different,  nohow;  he  treated  us  jest  the  same, 
and  allers  made  us  feel  as  if  the  hull  world  had  left  when  he  went 
away. 

"I  reckolect  one  time  when  Uncle  Abe  wus  up  a  visitin'  us  he  said, 
*It  is  remarkable  to  see  so  large  a  family  stay  together  so  long,  but  when 
they  begin  to  go  they  will  all  go  at  once.'  And  shore  nuff,  so  it  wus. 
Grandpap  Lincoln  wus  taken  with  smotherin'  spells  and  we  sent  for 
Uncle  Abe.  He  come  up  and  stayed  a  few  days  and  then  his  father  got 
better.     Uncle  Abe  went  back,  but  he'd  hardly  got  hum  before  Grand- 


LINCOLN  AND  PROFANE  LANGUAGE.  145 

pap  Lincoln  went  off  mighty  sudden  like.  He  died  of  heart  disease,  and 
we  sent  for  Uncle  Abe,  but  he  wus  so  busy  with  important  bisness  he 
couldn't  come  up  to  the  funeral.  Shortly  afterwards  he  come  up  to 
straighten  out  the  property,  for  Uncle  John  D.  Johnston  lived  with 
Grandpap  and  Grandmarm  Lincoln,  and  Uncle  Abe  he'd  give  Uncle 
John  a  piece  of  writin'  which  said  the  property  should  be  his'n  for  the 
sum  of  $200  without  interest,  and  he  could  hev  his  life  time  to  pay  for  it 
in  if  he  stayed  and  took  care  of  grandmarm  and  grandpap  and  then  re- 
mained on  the  premises  a  year  after  both  of  'em  wus  dead.  I  reckolect 
right  well  that  Uncle  Abe  told  Uncle  John  D.  Johnston  when  he  come 
up  that  he  wus  afraid  he'd  never  be  able  to  buy  the  place,  and  he  wus 
perfectly  willing  to  deed  him  the  place  if  he'd  promise  to  stay  with 
grandmarm,  for  Uncle  Abe  said:  ^I  am  just  as  anxious  to  have  mother 
cared  for  as  I  was  before  father  died.'  So  Uncle  John  D.  Johnston 
give  Uncle  Abe  a  promise  on  a  piece  of  paper  and  Uncle  Abe  fixed  the 
bargain  up  with  a  piece  of  writing,  which  give  the  property  to  Uncle 
John  D.  Johnston  fur  takin'  care  of  grandmarm." 

THE    LEGAL    DOCUMENT 

Mr.  Hall  now  invited  us  into  the  house  and  showed  me  the  legal 
document  that  conveyed  the  old  homestead  to  Mr.  Lincoln's  step- 
mother's son. 

The  boys  were  as  interested  in  the  "piece  of  writin' "  as  my  com- 
panion and  I  were,  and  appeared  to  enjoy  the  reading  of  the  same  as 
much  as  we  did,  though  no  doubt  they  themselves  had  often  read  the 
legal  instrument. 

The  following  is  a  correct  copy  of  the  original : 

This  indenture  made  this  twelfth  day  of  August,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-one,  by  and  between  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  and  Mary  Lincoln,  his  wife,  of  the  City  of  Springfield, 
County  of  Sangamon,  and  State  of  Illinois,  party  of  the  firsit  part,  and 
John  D.  Johnston,  of  the  County  of  Coles,  and  State  aforesaid,  party  of 
the  second  part,  witnesseth: 

That  the  said  party  of  the  first  part  for  and  in  consideration  of  the 
sum  of  one  dollar  to  them  in  hand  paid,  the  receipt  whereof  is  hereby 


146  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

acknowledged,  have  remised,  released  and  forever  quit-claimed  and  by 
these  presents  do  remise,  release  and  forever  quit-claim  to  and  in  favor 
of  the  said  party  of  the  second  part,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  all  the 
right,  title,  interest  and  estate  which  the  said  party  of  the  first  part 
have  in  and  to  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter,  and 
the  northeast  quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter,  both  of  section  twenty- 
one,  in  township  eleven,  north  of  range  nine,  east  of  the  third  principal 
meridian,  situated  in  the  said  County  of  Coles,  and  together  containing 
eighty  acres,  more  or  less,  the  interest  of  the  said  party  of  the  first  part 
in  and  to  said  lands  being  that  derived  as  sole  heir  at  law  of  the  late 
Thomas  Lincoln,  now  deceased,  and  subject  to  the  right  of  dower  of 
Sarah  Lincoln,  widow  of  the  said  Thomas  Lincoln,  deceased. 

To  have  and  to  hold  to  the  same  party  of  the  second  part  and  to  his 
heirs  and  assigns  forever  the  interest  aforesaid  in  and  to  the  above 
described  lands,  together  with  all  and  singular  the  privileges  and  ap- 
purtenances thereto  belonging. 

In  testimony  whereof  the  said  party  of  the  first  part  have  hereunto 
set  their  hands  and  seals  this  day  and  year  first  above  written. 

A.  LINCOLN.  (Seal.) 
M.  LINCOLN.  (Seal.) 

QETTSNQ    POSSESSION    OF    LINOOLN    HOMESTEAD 

Mr.  Hall,  his  family,  Miss  Coleman  and  myself  returned  to  the  front 
room.  Looking  up  at  the  old-fashioned  timepiece,  our  host  said:  "If 
'twarn't  so  orful  late  I^d  tell  yer  what  a  time  I^ve  hed  buyin'  and  keepin' 
this  yere  place  where  the  old  log  cabin  stands." 

To  our  little  company  time  was  no  objection,  and  we  all  clamored 
for  the  story.  Mr.  Hall  began  at  once  and  said:  "Grandpap  hedn't 
ben  dead  very  long  before  Uncle  John  D.  Johnston  got  oneasy  and 
wanted  to  go  away  and  sell  out,  which  of  course  he  couldn't  do  legally, 
I  don't  suppose.  Wall,  as  soon  as  I  heerd  of  it  I  made  up  my  mind  that 
I  would  buy  the  farm  and  live  with  grandmarm.  I  hed  found  a  gal, 
and  we  hed  hitched  up  and  wus  livin'  down  in  Farmington  with  my 
mother,  who  hed  married  again  and  hed  quite  a  good  house  thare.    I 


LINCOLN  AND  PROFANE  LANGUAGE.  147 

went  over  to  see  Uncle  John  D.  Johnston  and  we  talked  the  business 
over,  and  he  took  me  up  and  said  he  considered  it  a  good  bargain. 

"I  paid  Uncle  John  D.  Johnston  for  his  interest  and  he  give  me  a  piece 
of  writin'  which  said  the  property  wus  mine.  I  moved  right  in  and 
took  care  of  grandmarm  till  she  died,  which  wus  in  the  month  of  April, 
1869.  One  day  I  got  to  thinkin'  about  the  paper,  and  ses  I  to  myself, 
now  the  piece  of  writin^  that  Uncle  Abe  give  Uncle  John  reads,  'To  his 
heirs,'  and  I  made  up  my  mind  that  his  children  could  come  back  on 
me  for  their  father's  interest,  and  I  jest  thought  I  would  speak  about 
It.  St>  one  time  when  Uncle  Abe  wus  visiting  us,  and  as  soon  as  I 
ketched  'em  all  out  of  the  house  but  me  and  Uncle  Abe,  I  ses  to  him,  ses 
I,  'Now,  Uncle  Abe,  couldn't  you  change  that  bond  you  give  Uncle  John 
D.  Johnston  or  else  give  me  a  piece  of  writin'  that  will  make  me  safe; 
for  his  piece  reads,  "To  his  heirs,"  and  when  Uncle  John  D.  Johnston  is 
dead  his  folks  may  make  me  trouble,  and  I  hev  honestly  paid  him  $50 
and  always  expect  to  take  care  of  grandmarm  jest  the  same  as  if  she 
wus  my  own  mother.'  But  Uncle  Abe  ses,  'No,  John,'  ses  he,  'I  made 
that  bond  jest  as  obligatory  as  I  could  and  no  one  will  make  you  any 
trouble,  I  am  sure.' 

A    REQUEST    TO    ROBERT    LINCOLN 

"I  didn't  like  to  trouble  Uncle  Abe,  and  so  I  didn't  say  nothing  more 
about  it,  nohow;  but  shore  nuff,  jest  as  soon  as  grandmarm  wus  dead, 
Tom  Johnston,  Uncle  John's  oldest  son,  tried  to  sell  me  out  round  among 
the  neighbors  for  f 200,  but  none  of  them  would  tech  it.  After  a  while 
I  got  to  thinkin'  about  it,  that  Uncle  John's  heirs  hed  no  right  to 
sell  out,  cause  he  hedn't  kept  his  promise  to  Uncle  Abe  to  take 
care  of  grandmarm,  and  so  the  property  must  still  belong  to  the  heirs 
of  Uncle  Abe.  I  wus  orful  worried  and  I  got  a  right  smart  lawyer  at 
Charleston  to  write  to  Major  Conely,  of  Sipringfield,  and  jest  ask  Bob 
Lincoln,  Uncle  Abe's  oldest  son,  if  he'd  ever  try  to  get  it  away  from 
me.  He  wrote,  and  Uncle  Abe's  son  sent  back  word  that  he  didn't  want 
no  money  for  it,  nohow,  and  didn't  want  to  tech  it,  and  to  tell  me  it  wus 
all  right,  and  fer  me  not  to  feel  afraid.    Wall,  anyhow,  my  tax  titles  is 


148  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

clear  and  I  hev  been  in  peaceable  possession  for  nigh  onto  forty  yearSj 
and  so  I  reckon  the  property  is  mine." 

The  children  as  well  as  the  older  members  of  the  household 
listened  attentively  to  the  recital,  and  upon  its  conclusion  each  one  of 
the  little  party  gathered  about  Mr.  Hall  and  began  to  ply  him  with 
questions,  but  our  host  insisted  that  we  should  retire  immediately,  for 
there  would  be  no  further  story-telling  that  night. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

LINCOLN   SURPRISED   HIS   PHOTOGRAPHER 

ALTHOUGH  the  Springfield  lawyer  had  visited  Chicago,  and  been 
engaged  in  trials  at  that  place,  he  was  unknown  to  the  general 
public. 

A  few  lawyers  and  some  of  their  friends  had  formed  the  acquaint- 
ance of  the  peculiar  man,  and  had  expressed  themselves  as  believing 
the  odd  and  strange  man  would  "be  heard  from." 

Some  time  during  the  year  1857  Mr.  Lincoln  came  up  to  Chicago  to 
conduct  some  legal  affairs,  but  so  little  known  was  he  beyond  his  own 
locality  that  when  he  went  into  a  studio  for  the  purpose  of  having  his 
photograph  taken  he  was  not  recognized.  Mr.  Hessler,  the  photog- 
rapher, was  both  amused  and  surprised  to  hear  the  awkward,  homely 
countryman  say,  "I  believe  I  will  have  my  picture  taken  for  some  of 
the  lawyers  at  the  court  house  may  want  to  have  it."  The  photographer 
was  too  amai^ed  and  surprised  to  reply,  but  he  placed  the  sitter  in  posi- 
tion and  simply  said:  "Have  you  any  objections  to  having  your  hair 
pushed  back  from  your  forehead?"  The  unknown  sitter  smiled  and 
made  brief  response.  Mr.  Lincoln's  hair  was  properly  arranged  accord- 
ing to  the  photographer's  fancy,  and  the  "picture"  was  pronounced  a 
success. 

Mr.  Hessler  says  in  a  letter  written  some  time  afterwards  to  a  prom- 
inent citizen  of  Chicago:  "Can  you  imagine  my  astonishment  and  sur- 
prise when  I  discovered  that  the  negative  which  I  had  in  my  possession 
of  a  supposed  ordinary,  though  rather  peculiar,  countryman  was  no 
other  than  Abraham  Lincoln,  the  Presidential  candidate." 

It  has  been  my  good  fortune  to  secure  the  copy  of  a  letter  written 
by  Mr.  Hessler  to  a  w^ell-known  citizen  of  Chicago,  regarding  the  above- 
mentioned  photograph.  A  copy  verbatim  of  the  letter  is  reproduced 
for  my  readers'  benefit: 

149 


150  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 


THE    PHOTOGRAPHER^S    STORY 

Dear  Sir.  My  first  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Lincoln  was  in  Feb 
1857  when  he  came  into  my  studio  in  the  Metropolitan  Block  and  sat 
for  his  negative  and  as  he  explained  it  "So  that  the  lawyers  over  at 
the  Court  House  that  wanted  my  picture  bad  enough  to  buy  it  could 
come  and  get  copies." 

His  tall,  gaunt  figure  at  first  sight  impressed  me  with  the  thought 
Avho  could  want  your  picture?  but  when  seated,  a  glance  at  his  head 
and  face  struck  me  as  one  of  rare  power  and  goodness — His  hair  was 
very  long  and  full  over  his  eyes  and  forehead.  I  asked  him  if  I  might 
arrange  it  to  which  he  replied  "Fix  it  to  please  you."  I  ran  my 
fingers  through  his  hair  throwing  it  off  from  his  forehead.  The  result 
was  the  picture  in  profile  showing  his  magnificent  head  and  strength 
of  character,  never  since  portrayed.  This  picture  was  greatly  admired 
by  all  who  loved  his  genial  and  expressive  face  and  mouth. 

After  his  nomination  came  the  demand  for  a  likeness  more  smooth 
and  dressed  up,  with  hair  not  so  long  and  more  "smoothed  down."  I 
was  requested  to  make  one  such,  accordingly  I  wrote  to  Mr.  Lincoln 
at  Springfield  to  know  if  he  was  soon  coming  to  Chicago,  he  kindly 
replied  that  his  friends  had  decided  that  he  should  remain  in  Springfield 
until  after  the  election  "but  if  I  would  come  there  he  would  give  me  sit- 
tings." 

I  went  down  the  last  of  June  18G0 — (it  was  the  day  of  the  great 
Camanche  cvclone  that  caused  such  dreadful  destruction  across  the  en- 
tire  state,  striking  Lake  Michigan  just  north  of  Winetka — and  secured 
a  number  of  good  negatives.  Prints  from  these  were  reduced  and 
scattered  by  thousands  all  over  the  country  and  convinced  the  people 
that  such  a  noble  head  was  the  one  to  lead  and  govern  the  mighty  peo- 
ple. 

After  he  reached  Washington  he  was  persuaded  to  hide  his  strong 
and  good,  honest  features  by  wearing  his  beard,  thinking  no  doubt  that 
by  hiding  the  rugged  noble  features  to  enhance  his  beauty  but  then  his 
real  beauty  was  lost  to  sight  and  the  strong  features  were  gone. 


LINCOLN  SURPRISED  HIS  PHOTOGRAPHER.  151 

From  a  photograph  with  his  hair  suit  on  an  engraving  was  made  SO 
smoothed  and  idealized  that  the  real  man  is  lost. 

Mr.  Volk  the  sculptor  has  the  only  true  likeness  of  him  in  clay 
that  has  been  made  and  if  ever  Mr.  Lincoln  is  perpetuated  in  marble 
by  true  History,  his  will  be  the  likeness  chosen.  A.  HESSLEE. 

The  "true  likeness"  which  Mr.  Hessler  refers  to  is  a  bust  of  Mr. 
Lincoln,  life  size,  and  taken  of  him  soon  after  his  nomination  to  the 
Presidency  of  the  United  States. 

THE    SCULPTOR^S    STORY 

Mr.  Volk's  letter  describing  Mr.  Lincoln's  sitting,  writing  to  Mrs. 
Judge  Bradwell,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Chicago,  is  herewith  repro- 
duced: 

"Mrs.  Myra  Bradwell — My  dear  Madam:  Mr.  Lincoln  gave  me  about 
a  dozen  sittings  before  the  first  nomination  in  the  old  wigwam  for  the 
Presidency.  He  was  always  quite  prompt  and  patient,  and  seemed 
interested  in  the  modeling  in  clay,  it  being  the  first  he  had  ever  seen  in 
his  life,  and  at  the  same  time  telling  me  many  of  his  unparalleled  funny 
and  amusing  stories. 

"One  Sunday  he  sat  nearly  all  day,  saying  as  he  entered  my  studio 
on  the  fourth  floor  of  the  Portland  block,  that  he  would  rather  sit  to 
me  for  his  bust  than  go  to  church  and  hear  a  cut  and  dried  sermon,  and 
that  when  he  heard  a  man  preach  he  liked  to  hear  him  preach  as  if  he 
were  fighting  bees,  at  the  same  time  accompanying  the  words  by  ener- 
getically throwing  out  his  long  arms. 

"But  I  am  digressing.  About  the  last  sitting  he  gave  me  was  on  a 
pleasant  morning.  As  he  entered  he  appeared  a  little  hurried,  and 
being  desirous  to  represent  as  nearly  as  possible  his  neck,  shoulder  and 
breast  in  the  model,  in  order  to  harmonize  with  the  head  and  face,  I 
invited  him  to  loosen  his  garments  so  I  could  see  plainly.  He  remarked 
that  he  would  strip  right  off  with  coat,  vest,  collar,  cravat  and  shirt,  and 
I  would  then  have  a  fair  chance. 

"He  hastily  removed  all  the  above  mentioned  articles  and  placed 
them  on  a  chair.  His  undershirt  he  pulled  down  to  the  waist  and  tied 
the  sleeves  together  in  the  front.  I  worked  as  rapidly  as  I  could  to 
transfer  correctly  to  clay  his  brawny,  muscular  shoulders,  which  were 
soon  destined  to  be  applied  to  the  government  wheels. 


153  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

"Upon  the  conclusion  of  the  sitting,  Mr.  Lincoln  hastily  readjusted 
his  toilet  all  right,  as  he  supposed,  declining  any  assistance,  saying  that 
he  could  do  it  just  as  well  alone.  And  being  intent  on  finishing  some 
point  in  clay  while  fresh  in  my  memory,  I  did  not  notice  him  particu- 
larly while  rearranging  his  dress.  After  his  usual  inquiry  when  he 
should  come  again  and  a  cordial  good-morning,  he  passed  out  into  the 
hall  and  started  downstairs. 

"Suddenly  I  heard  him  retracing  his  steps,  and  immediately  the  door 
opened  without  much  ceremony. 

"  'Hello,  Mr.  Yolk,'  said  he,  with  a  slightly  embarrassed  air,  but  very 
humorous  countenance,  *I  forgot  to  put  my  shirt  on  and  thought  I  had 
better  come  back  and  do  it  before  going  into  the  street.'  Looking  at 
him  I  noticed  that  the  said  shirtsleeves,  which  he  had  tied  together, 
were  dangling  below  his  coat  skirt.  By  our  joint  and  united  efforts  he 
was  again  dressed  up  properly  (this  time)  about  as  quickly  as  any  person 
ever  was  in  the  world.  Yours  very  sincerely, 

"LEONARD  W.  VOLK.'' 

"Chicago,  July  15,  1876." 


CHAPTER  XXIIL 

DENNIS    HANKS'    VISIT   TO    THE    PRESIDENT   AND  WHAT 

CAME  OF  IT 

THE  weather  continued  hot  and  oppressive,  the  sky  was  like  molten 
brass,  the  air  filled  with  dust,  the  grass  dry  and  crackling.  The 
setting  sun,  red  and  hot,  was  sinking  below  the  western  horizon. 
A  breeze  sprang  up.  The  low  and  distant  rumbling  of  thunder  was 
heard,  clouds  were  scurrying  across  the  sky,  a  tiny  drop  of  water  fell 
on  my  upturned  face,  then  another,  till  finally  the  floodgates  of  Heaven 
were  loosed  and  the  grateful  deluge  descended. 

Now  was  my  opportunity;  the  roads  would  be  free  from  dust  and  the 
morning  would  come  to  us  sweet  and  cool.  Mr.  Hall  had  not  offered  to 
keep  his  promise  in  regard  to  our  call  upon  old  Uncle  Dennis  Hanks, 
and  I  had  felt  rather  delicate  in  urging  the  matter;  but  the  change  of 
weather  and  the  receipt  of  a  bulky  package  which  came  from  Chicago 
the  day  before  was  my  incentive.  Therefore  I  determined  to  inveigle 
Mr.  Hall  into  another  excursion.  With  considerable  anxiety  I  broached 
the  subject,  asking  that  the  following  day  should  be  given  to  the  trip. 
Imagine  my  surprise  and  delight;  Uncle  John  was  not  only  willing,  but 
appeared  delighted  and  began  to  arrange  for  a  longer  drive  than  I  had 
planned. 

THE    PROMISE    FULFILLED 

It  was  decided  that  we  should  again  drive  over  to  Charleston  and 
from  that  point  take  the  train  to  Paris,  where  old  Dennis  Hanks  was 
now  living.  The  anticipated  enjoyment  of  the  coming  day  actually 
drove  away  nature^s  sweet  restorer,  and  after  a  night  of  restless  toss- 
ing I  arose  with  the  meadow  lark  and  sang  outright.  My  impatience 
and  uneasiness  aroused  the  entire  household,  and  "Sis,"  with  her  usual 
good  will  and  helpful  nature,  soon  had  breakfast  ready.  After  par- 
taking of  a  hurried  meal,  we  said  our  good-byes  to  the  inmates  of  the 

153 


154  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

little  cottage  and  departed,  leaving  behind  us  a  dejected  household. 

Promising  to  return  as  soon  as  possible,  we  drove  rapidly  away.  A 
glance  backward  revealed  a  pleasant  sight;  the  entire  company  w^ere 
waving  their  hands  and  shouting  their  adieus.  My  impetuous  nature 
asserted  itself,  and  answering  with  a  call  equally  as  loud,  I  cried  out, 
'Watch  for  the  surprige."  The  startling  statement  brought  out  a  vol- 
ley of  questions  from  the  little  group  at  the  gate,  while  the  boys  leaped 
the  fence  and  insisted  upon  an  explanation.  At  my  suggestion  Mr. 
Hall  urged  our  patient  and  homely  steeds  into  an  ambling  trot,  and  we 
soon  outdistanced  the  male  trio,  who,  realizing  our  advantage,  gave  up 
the  chase. 

The  morning  was  cool  and  delightful,  and  the  very  beasts  seemed  to 
understand  my  impatience  and  nervousness,  for  we  bowled  along  right 
merrily,  and  even  Mr.  HalPs  reminiscences  were  of  a  pleasant  and 
humorous  nature. 

We  arrived  at  Charleston  just  as  the  little  village  was  putting  on 
her  morning  dress.  Upon  inquiry  we  found  that  we  could  not  leave 
Charleston  for  Paris  until  the  noon  hour.  Driving  down  the  main 
street  a  little  distance,  we  came  to  the  "best"  hotel,  and  after  ordering 
an  early  dinner  Mr.  Hall  suggested  that  "we'd  better  take  in  the  town 
ag'in,  fur  I  reckon  we'll  run  across  somebody  that  knowed  Uncle  Abe." 

I  had  already  decided  to  not  only  "take  in"  something  at  Charles- 
ton, but  also  to  take  out  something,  and  that  something  was  the  surprise 
that  I  had  imprudently  charged  the  family  to  watch  for.  Little  did  I 
imagine  that  fate  had  ordered  otherwise,  and  that  Mr.  Hall  and  I  w^ould 
not  return  home  that  night. 

A    TRANSFORMATION 

The  "leading"  dry  goods  store  in  Charleston  was  visited,  and  I  in- 
sisted that  Mr.  Hall  should  be  fitted  out  with  a  suit  of  clothes,  hat  and 
a  pair  of  boots  thrown  in.  The  garments  that  Mr.  Hall  wore  were  no 
doubt  agreeable  to  the  weather,  for  his  attire  was  exceedingly  simple, 
and  consisted  of  a  pair  of  baggy  blue  jean  pants,  a  checked  shirt,  a 
pair  of  low  shoes,  and  a  broad-brim  straw  hat,  with  a  cotton  string  for 
a  band.    Anticipating  a  refusal  upon  the  grounds  that  only  city  chaps 


DENNIS  HANKS'   VISIT.  151 

wore  store  clothes,  his  reply  fairly  staggered  me.  Uncle  John  Hall 
looked  at  me  searchingly;  his  eyes  were  full  of  meaning,  and  to  my 
utter  astonishment  and  bewilderment  he  said:  "I  low'd  ye^d  be 
ashamed  of  me,  but  I  can't  pay  for  these  yer  clothes,  nohow." 

After  being  convinced  that  the  outfit  was  a  present  from  the  Lincoln 
Log  Cabin  Association,  he  retired  into  a  closet  and  shortly  reappeared. 
The  vision  bewildered  me.  It  was  a  transformation  scene;  coat, 
trousers,  vest,  white  shirt,  collar,  necktie,  derby  hat  and  polished  boots. 
What  a  metamorphosis.  The  grub  had  become  a  butterfly.  "Mr.  Hall, 
Esquire,"  was  introduced,  but  what  had  become  of  Uncle  John? 

A  turn  about  across  the  street  and  I  insisted  upon  going  into  a  car- 
riage shop.  Before  Mr.  Hall  could  collect  his  scattered  wits  I  had 
selected  a  good,  substantial,  two-seated,  family  buggy,  paid  down  a  gen- 
erous instalment,  and  promised  that  Mr.  Hall  would  be  able  to  meet 
future  payments.  Our  business  finished,  the  proprietor  politely  bowed 
us  out  and  promised  to  have  the  buggy  fastened  to  our  "democrat," 
which  we  informed  him  was  at  the  "livery  barn." 

FULFILLMENT    OF    THE    VOW 

Poor  "Sis"  had  for  many  long  years  been  the  comfort  and  joy 
of  the  household,  a  mother  to  her  young  brothers  and  sisters,  patiently 
and  uncomplainingly  had  she  toiled  for  them,  and  with  no  hope  of  re- 
ward. Her  work  had  been  a  labor  of  love;  she  had  none  of  the  com- 
forts of  life,  nor  even  the  conveniences.  Was  there  no  one  to  speak  for 
her?  Yes,  I  had  determined  to  lessen  and  alleviate  her  home  duties, 
to  lighten  her  drudgery,  to  reward  her  patient,  heavy  soul,  to  furnish 
some  respite  from  labor  and  bring  pleasure  into  her  dull  and  monoton- 
ous life. 

The  thought  that  was  uppermost  in  my  mind  I  voiced.  Mr.  Hall 
looked  unutterable  things,  but  before  he  could  speak  he  was  whirled 
into  the  "most  reliable"  hardware  store  in  the  town,  and  the  clerk  was 
showing  us  the  latest  and  most  improved  gasoline  stove.  Mr.  Hall  ap- 
peared to  be  paralyzed,  for  no  sound  escaped  his  lips,  and  a  dozen  ex- 
pressions chased  one  another  over  his  weather-stained  face.  Finally 
he  opened  his  mouth  as  if  to  speak,  but  a  warning  gesture  from  me 


156  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

bade  him  hold  his  peace.  The  stove  was  purchased  and  Mr.  Hall  said 
very  meekly,  "Send  it  to  the  ^accommodation  barn/  whar  I  left  the 
^democrat.' " 

Immediately  upon  the  conclusion  of  our  noonday  meal  we  walked 
rapidly  to  the  depot  and  were  soon  steaming  away,  with  Paris  as  our 
objective  point.  Some  difficulty  was  experienced  in  finding  the  resi- 
dence of  Mrs.  Nancy  Schoaff,  Uncle  Dennis  Hanks'  eldest  daughter, 
and  with  whom  he  lived.  The  meeting  of  the  cousins  was  quite  affect- 
ing. A  number  of  years  had  passed  since  they  had  seen  each  other,  and 
many  changes  had  come  to  both  families. 

A    UNIQUE    INTRODUCTION 

Mr.  Hall  introduced  me  by  saying  "this  yur  woman  hes  come  all  the 
way  from  Chicago  to  see  Uncle  Dennis  and  hear  some  of  his  stories 
about  Uncle  Abe."  Mrs.  Schoaff  received  me  cordially,  but  informed 
me  that  her  father  was  very  aged,  being  now  ninety-two  years  old,  and 
somewhat  infirm,  owing  to  the  fact  that  he  had  fallen  during  the 
early  part  of  the  summer  and  injured  his  hip  so  severely  that  he  was 
confined  to  his  bed.  Without  further  delay,  however,  Mrs.  Schoaff  con- 
ducted us  to  the  old  gentleman's  apartments. 

To  be  sure  we  found  Mr.  Hanks  in  bed,  but  in  nowise  sick  or  in- 
firm in  intellect.  Mr.  Hall's  greeting  to  his  aged  uncle  was  indeed 
touching,  while  tears  glistened  in  the  old  man's  eyes.  Dennis  Hanks 
received  me  graciously,  and  before  long  was  spinning  his  yarns  con- 
cerning "Abe"  and  the  old  folks.  However,  he  first  informed  me  that 
if  I  was  a  reporter,  a  newspaper  woman,  or  a  collector  of  Lincoln 
stories,  he'd  have  nothing  to  say  to  me,  for  the  "hull  posse  of  them  kind 
had  never  paid  him  a  cent  for  all  the  information  he  had  given  'em." 

I  succeeded  in  pacifying  the  old  gentleman,  and  adroitly  obtained  a 
series  of  anecdotes  concerning  Mr.  Lincoln  and  his  family,  among  them 
the  famous  story  of  "How  Dennis  Hanks  got  in  to  see  the  President." 

"In  the  first  place,"  said  Mr.  Hanks,  "I  think  I  ought  ter  hev  some 
credit  and  lots  of  money,  tu,  cause  if  it  hadn't  been  for  me  tliar'd  hey 
been  nothin'  for  folks  ter  make  sich  fools  of  theirselves."  After  im- 
pressing me  with  his  importance,  h^  proceeded  to  relate  the  story  of 


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FAMOUS    BEDSTEAD. 

The  above  picture  shows  the  west  room  of  the  Lincoln  Log  Cabin  and  the  bedstead  upon 

which  Abraham  Lincoln's  father  and  mother  died.     In  the  lower 

left-hand  corner  Abraham  Lincoln  slept  on  a  bunk. 


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X  V 


SPINNING    WHEEL. 

Interior  of  ea^st  room  of  the  Lincoln  Log  Cabin,  showing  Grandmother  Lincoln's  Spinning- 
wheel  and  cooking  utensils. 


DENNIS  HANKS'   VISIT.  157 

"Little  Abe's"  rescue  from  a  watery  grave,  which  had  already  been  told 

to  me  by  Mr.  Hall  during  the  first  days  of  my  visit  at  the  "old   log 

cflbm  " 

THE    FAMOUS    TALE 

Time  was  precious,  the  hours  were  slipping  away,  and  I  was  getting 
anxious  lest  we  should  be  obliged  to  leave  before  I  had  heard  the  famous 
tale.  Without  waiting  for  Mr.  Hanks  to  bring  up  further  incidents 
that  might  interfere  with  my  desire,  I  undertook  to  force  the  subject  by 
saying:  "Mr.  Hanks,  I  believe  you  had  the  honor  of  visiting  Mr.  Lin- 
coln at  the  Executive  Mansion  in  Washington,  did  you  not?"  He 
looked  at  me  a  moment,  and  laughing  heartily,  said:  "So  that's  the 
yarn  ye're  after,  is  it?''  Chuckling  to  himself  for  a  moment,  he  winked 
his  eye  at  Mr.  Hall  and  then  his  tongue  became  as  nimble  as  a  school 
girPs.  "Ye've  heerd  how  some  fellers  down  at  Charleston  got  into 
trouble  and  wus  sent  to  the  Dry  Tortagus,  ain't  ye?"  said  Mr.  Hanks. 
I  informed  him  that  I  knew  all  about  that,  and  begged  him  to  proceed 
with  his  own  part  in  the  drama.  He  proceeded,  saying:  "Wall,  some 
of  'em  smart  lawyers  down  to  Charleston  tried  to  get  Abe  to  let  the 
boys  come  home,  but  they  didn't  fetch  'em  worth  a  cent.  So  I  ses  to  my- 
self, Dennis  y'ur  the  boy  to  du  it,  and  I  jest  told  the  citizens  of  Charles- 
ton so,  and  they  said,  ^Hanks,  we  will  give  you  twelve  hundred  dol- 
lars if  you  will  get  the  prisoners  released.'  Ye  better  believe  that  I 
took  that  offer  up  and  waded  right  in,  got  my  ticket,  rode  down  to  Wash- 
ington and  went  right  up  to  Uncle  Abe's  house  and  asked  to  see  Presi- 
dent Lincoln.  The  feller  what  stood  at  the  door  told  me  there  wus 
jest  a  certain  way  to  get  in,  but  anyhow,  the  President  wus  crowded 
now.  Says  he,  ^There's  lots  of  fellers  in  talking  with  him  and  more 
that  want  to  get  in  that  come  before  you  did.'  Then  I  said  to  him,  ses 
I,  if  you'll  jest  show  me  the  hole  where  the  President  goes  in  and  out 
I'll  get  to  see  him.  The  feller  at  the  door  then  said  to  me,  ^Who  are 
you?'  I  ses  my  name  is  Hanks,  Pm  an  American  citizen,  and  I  want  to 
see  Abe  Lincoln.  Then  another  feller  says,  ^Vhere  are  you  from?'  I 
ses,  ses  I,  wall,  I  am  from  Charleston,  Coles  County,  Illinois.  Then 
some  other  feller  said,  ^That  man  talks  like  the  President,  Ms  voice 
sounds  like  his,  and  maybe  he  is  a  relation.' 


158  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

ABE    KNOWED    MY    VOICE 

"I  waited  a  minute  and  nobody  done  nothing,  so  I  jest  speaks  up 
ag'in  and  ses  I,  *Ef  ^^ou'll  take  me  up  to  his  bedroom  I'll  have  no  trouble 
in  gettin'  in.'  A  feller  took  me  up  to  a  door  to  where  Seward  wus  a 
settin',  and  I  looked  through  a  bunch  of  men  and  saw  Uncle  Abe  by 
a  stove  playin'  with  his  little  bo}^,  and  handin'  him  some  lemonade  or 
somethin'  like  that  and  laughin'  and  talkin'  with  him.  I  looked  at  him 
a  little  bit  and  spoke  out  in  a  loud  voice,  *Abe,  what  you  doin'  thur?' 
Abe  knowed  my  voice,  straightened  up,  and  said,  ^Dennis,  is  that  you?' 
He  then  invited  me  in  and  asked  Mr.  Seward  and  the  other  fellers  to 
jest  step  out  a  few  minutes,  ^fur,'  said  he,  ^I  want  to  see  this  man  private- 
ly.' So  they  all  went  out  but  me  and  Uncle  Abe.  He  then  askt  me, 
*How  is  mother  gettin'  along  and  all  the  balance  of  the  family?' 

"I  jest  open'd  up  and  told  Abe  my  business,  and  let  him  know  what  I 
hed  come  fur.  Abe  then  told  me  that  Colonel  Ficklin  hed  ben  thar 
twice  on  the  same  business,  but  he  hed  not  then  thought  the  men  hed 
ben  punished  long  enough,  so  he  ses,  ees  he,  ^Now  I  guess  they  can  go 
home  and  take  care  of  their  families  and  try  to  be  good  men.'  He 
wrote  out  a  piece  of  writin'  and  told  me  to  hand  that  to  Stanton.  Wall, 
I  took  it  to  him,  but  he  flew  into  a  passion  and  ses  he,  ^They  did  too 
bad  a  deed  to  be  pardoned.'  He  talked  a  little  bit  with  me  and  then 
said,  *I  will  go  and  see  Mr.  Lincoln,'  and  took  me  with  him.  Abe  talked 
with  me  a  little  and  then  he  turned  around  and  spoke  to  Mr.  Stanton, 
and  said,  ^These  men  all  have  families  and  they  w^ant  to  go  back  and 
take  care  of  them  and  behave  themselves,  and  now  whose  business  is 
it?'     Stanton  jest  shet  up  and  never  said  no  more,  nohow. 

"Abe  told  me  to  look  around  the  city  and  enjoy  myself.  'Twould  be 
all  right,'  he  said,  so  I  did,  and  shore  nuff  when  I  got  back  to  Charles- 
ton I  found  the  fellers  hed  got  thar  afore  me  and  everybody  was  re- 
joicing." 

After  having  related  the  above  he  rambled  off  and  began  to  talk 
about  other  things  entirely  irrelevant  to  my  desires.  I  was  determined 
to  hold  him  to  his  subject,  and  thus  remarked:  "Was  there  not  some 
romance  or  daring  adventure  in  your  family?" 


DENNIS  HANKS'   VISIT.  159 

NOT    ROMANCE,    BUT    POVERTY 

He  looked  at  me  askance  and  muttered  a  reply:  "Romance,  did  ye 
say?  No!  no!  it  wus  nothin'  but  poverty  and  toil  and  labor  and  hard- 
ships.    We  hed  our  noses  to  the  grindstone  year  in  and  year  out." 

At  this  point  in  our  conversation  I  made  a  remark  that  angered 
Dennis  Hanks  and  was  anxious  lest  I  had  forfeited  his  confidence.  In 
speaking  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  tragic  death  I  alluded  to  the  fact  that  the 
nation  was  plunged  into  the  deepest  grief,  for  which  there  was  no  re- 
lief: The  old  man  glanced  at  me  and  remarked:  "I  onct  met  a  fool  of 
a  preacher  who  said  the  same  thing  to  me,  and  then  he  began  to  snivel." 
The  old  man  ceased  speaking.  I  held  my  breath  and  hoped  he  had  ex- 
hausted that  subject,  but  breaking  out  again,  he  said:  "Abe  wasn't 
nobody  nor  nothin'.  The  people  made  him  and  he  wasn't  worth  cryin' 
over." 

Mr.  Hall  shook  his  head  gravely  and  gave  me  a  significant  look, 
which  I  interpreted  as  a  warning,  and  therefore  quickly  changed  my 
tactics  by  leading  the  old  man  into  a  different  vein  of  conversation. 

After  a  moment's  silence  the  old  man  spoke  aloud,  saying:  "Every- 
body round  here  is  allers  telling  how  shiftless  and  good-for-nothing 
Uncle  Tommy  Lincoln  wus,  but  Abe  wus  jest  as  shiftless  as  his  father 
wus  and  now^  I  am  goin'  to  tell  you  what  a  lazy  trick  he  cut  up  when  he 
wus  postmaster.  You  hev  heerd  that  Abe  wus  postmaster,  haven't  ye?" 
Before  I  could  reply  he  proceeded:  "Wall,  he  wus,  and  carried  the  mail 
in  his  hat,  tu.  He  use  to  go  fishin'  sometimes  and  whenever  he  got 
started  he  didn't  like  to  be  disturbed  and  so  he  jest  thought  he'd  take 
the  letters  along  in  his  hat  and  when  the  folks  called  for  'em  he  left  a 
piece  of  writing  on  the  door  which  said,  ^It's  just  as  easy  for  you  to  come 
to  me  as  it  is  for  me  to  go  to  you.'  That's  the  way  he  sarved  his  country." 

The  conversation  was  again  taking  a  turn  that  was  decidedly  un- 
pleasant. In  order  to  escape  the  old  man's  further  tirade,  I  thanked 
him  for  the  information  he  had  given  me  and  bade  him  a  hearty  good- 
bye. 

Though  I  thanked  Dennis  Hanks  for  his  attention  and  interesting 
anecdotes,  I  could  not  forget  the  spirit  that  he  displayed,  a  spirit  which 


160  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

differed  so  materially  from  his  illustrious  relative  who  died  as  he  had 
lived,  "with  malice  toward  none — with  charity  for  all." 

Mr.  Hall  and  I  descended  the  stairs  and  passed  into  the  dining-room, 
where  a  delicious  lunch  had  been  prepared  for  us  by  Mrs.  S'choaff. 
She  insisted  and  we  remained  to  partake  of  the  hospitable  fare,  thus 
failing  to  catch  the  first  train  for  Charleston, 


CHAPTER  XXIV, 

RECOVERY  OF  THE  LINCOLN  FOLK-LORE  STORIES 

THE  next  "flyer*'  was  belated.  This  delay  was  most  annoying.  At 
last  the  iron  horse  steamed  into  the  station  and  we  boarded  the 
train,  arriving  in  Charleston  some  twenty  minutes  past  twelve 
o'clock  midnight.  Mr.  Hall  and  I  proceeded  immediately  to  the  livery 
barn  but  we  failed  to  find  the  regular  attendant.  Our  purchases  had 
not  been  properly  cared  for,  although  we  had  left  explicit  orders  to 
have  everything  in  readiness  upon  our  arrival. 

After  considerable  parley,  a  man,  apparently  connected  with  the 
establishment,  came  from  a  concealed  corner  and  in  a  sleepy  tone 
offered  to  assist  us.  Upon  investigation  one  of  the  barn  hands  told  us 
that  he  was  neither  proprietor  nor  employee,  but  only  "a  stranger 
around  here." 

Mr.  Hall  now  undertook  to  find  some  one  who  would  assist  him  in 
fastening  the  buggy  to  the  "democrat,"  "hoist"  the  stove  into  the 
"wagin"  and  harness  the  mules.  During  his  absence  the  stranger 
accosted  me  and  fired  at  me  a  volley  of  questions  concerning  myself,  my 
business,  my  companion,  until  at  last  his  manner  not  only  became 
obnoxious,  but  disgusting;  and  before  Mr.  Hall  returned  another 
would-be  proprietor  joined  the  questioner.  To  all  appearances  the 
second  stranger  was  utterly  intoxicated  and  immediately  began  to  also 
ask  me  similar  questions. 

THE    THEFT 

I  was  becoming  alarmed,  but  Mr.  HalPs  appearance  reassured  me. 
He  was  accompanied  by  the  bam  hands,  who  deliberately  set  about 
assisting  him  in  packing  his  purchases.  After  some  considerable  delay 
it  was  decided  that  "everything  was  ready,"  and  I  proceeded  to  take  my 
seat  in  the  "democrat,"  but  before  so  doing  I  missed  a  parcel  that  I  had 
placed  in  the  buggy,  which  was  fastened  behind  the  democrat.    The 

161 


163  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

bundle  contained  several  valuable  articles,  among  them  my  notes  that 
had  been  recorded  that  afternoon  at  Paris — Mr.  Hanks'  conversation,  and 
I  was  greatly  annoyed.  Taxing  the  barn  hands  with  the  theft  I  threat- 
ened to  send  for  an  officer  of  the  law. 

The  stranger  and  his  companion  had  disappeared,  and  the  tw^o  young 
men  again  denied  the  accusation.  After  some  further  talk  back  and 
forth,  the  younger  man  called  me  aside  and,  whispering  to  me,  said: 
"That  stranger  has  been  hanging  around  the  barn  ever  since  you  and 
Mr.  Hall  came  here  and  said  that  you  were  going  down  to  Paris  and 
wanted  the  team  ready  to  go  out  home  to-night,  and  he  wanted  me  to 
either  sell  or  lend  him  a  pistol.'* 

The  situation  was  really  becoming  serious  and  I  insisted  that  an 
officer  should  be  summoned  at  once.  The  young  man  who  had  given 
me  the  information  left  the  barn  and  soon  returned  with  the  sheriff, 
who  tried  to  convince  me  that  I  had  left  my  package  "back  in  Paris,  on 
the  train,  or  somewhere  else."  I  stuck  to  my  first  statement  and  in- 
sisted that  the  parcel  must  be  found.  The  intoxicated  specimen  of 
humanity  was  discovered,  aroused  and  threatened. 

In  a  short  time  the  package  was  restored,  and  the  story  of  the  pistol 
was  told  to  the  officer,  who  now  began  to  take  some  interest  in  the 
affair,  and  after  advising  us  not  to  undertake  to  go  home  at  that  late 
hour  accompanied  us  to  the  "best  hotel." 

BREAKFAST    AT    THE    HOTEL 

Morning  came  and  when  Mr.  Hall  and  I  went  in  to  breakfast  we  were 
the  lions  of  the  hour.  Exaggerated  accounts  had  gone  out  and  been  so 
multiplied  that  the  citizens  were  surprised  to  see  murdered  people 
"climb"  into  a  buggy  and  drive  about  the  streets  of  the  little  town  "as 
natural  as  life." 

What  I  had  been  sighing  for  had  come  to  me,  an  adventure,  a  real 
live  one,  too. 

Leaving  Charleston  at  an  early  hour,  Mr.  Hall  urged  the  mules  into 
a  lively  canter  as  we  wished  to  reach  home  at  the  earliest  opportunity, 
realizing  that  the  entire  family  were  doubtless  alarmed  at  our  absence. 
Our  conviction  w^as  confirmed,  for  as  we  came  out  into  the  main  road 


LINCOLN  FOLK-LORE  STORIES.  163 

and  "hove"  into  sight  "Little  Joe"  spied  us,  and  communicated  the  news 
to  the  remainder  of  the  family,  who  dashed  pell  mell  out  of  the  house 
and  gave  us  a  noisy  welcome. 

MORE    SURPRISES 

Before  a  word  was  exchanged,  however,  the  buggy  and  its  contents 
caught  the  attention  of  the  young  people,  who  were  too  surprised  and 
astonished  to  ask  questions.  They  were  fairly  dazed.  The  buggy  was 
unfastened  and  when  Mr.  Hall  told  the  boys  that  it  was  all  their  own 
they  simply  gathered  about  it  and  seemed  content  to  merely  look  at  it. 
There  was  no  noisy  demonstration.  The  surprise  and  the  unthought  of 
pleasure  had  robbed  them  of  speech. 

The  gasoline  stove  was  taken  out,  carried  into  the  kitchen,  filled, 
lighted  and  its  merits  explained.  "Sis"  seemed  fairly  dazed  while  we 
were  explaining  and  demonstrating.  When  I  had  finished  and  had  told 
her  that  she  was  mistress  of  this  "wonderful  household  invention,''  she 
quietly  remarked:    "Wall,  I'd  think." 

This  even  t  was  indeed  an  epoch  in  tne  history  of  the  family  and  the 
entire  day  wi  s  spent  in  answering  questions  and  rehearsing  the  tragic 
events  of  the  ^vrevious  night.  When  the  custodian  of  the  cabin  came  up 
for  his  noonda^v  meal,  young  Abe  Hall  asked  me  to  tell  the  story  how 
"Dad  and  ye  je&t  missed  being  killed  stun  dead." 

LAST    NIGHT^S    JOB    HAS    DONE    mE    UP 

At  an  unusually  nnd  ridiculously  early  hour  Mr.  Hall  began  prepara- 
tions for  retirement,  and  insisted  that  all  the  members  of  the  house- 
hold should  go  to  bed  and  sleep  too,  for  as  he  said,  "last  night's  job  hes 
done  me  up." 

The  night  was  excessively  sultry  and  the  air  unusually  humid. 
The  idea  of  going  into  a  hot  and  stifling  house,  when  life  was  hardly 
endurable  out  of  doors,  was  not  to  be  thought  of.  The  entire  family 
groaned,  and  with  one  accord  insisted  that  they'd  rather  suffer  almost 
any  punishment  than  be  obliged  to  enter  the  little  domicile  under  the 
present  distressing  circumstances.  We  coaxed  and  tried  to  persuade 
the  master  of  the  house  that  we  would  preserve  the  utmost  silence. 


164:  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

We  also  agreed  to  enter  into  no  conversation  whatever,  and  promised 
faithfully  that  when  we  came  in  we  would  use  the  utmost  caution  that 
we  should  not  awaken  him.  But  the  events  of  the  previous  night  had 
indeed  made  Mr.  Hall  unusually  peculiar,  and  he  still  refused  to  permit 
us  to  remain  in  the  open  air. 

After  I  had  concluded  that  further  attempt  would  be  in  vain,  and 
considering  his  refusal  final,  I  followed  the  example  of  my  host  and 
went  into  the  cottage  quite  disconsolate  and  indeed  really  unhappy. 

THE    WELCOME    VISITOR 

My  unhappiness  was  of  short  duration,  however,  and  that  unpleasant 
state  of  mind  was  changed  into  delight  and  expectancy,  for  no  sooner 
had  we  entered  the  house  than  an  unrecognized  voice  called  from  the  gate, 
and  hasty  steps,  on  the  graveled  walk,  betokened  the  approach  of  a  late 
caller.  As  usual  the  entire  family  rushed  to  the  door,  for  evening  visitors 
were  so  rare  that  such  occasions  always  created  surprise  and  pleasure. 

A  cheery  "Hello"  and  "How  are  ye,  brother  John?"  revealed  the 
identity  of  the  late  visitor. 

The  boys  surrounded  Uncle  Bill,  and  Mr.  Hall  called  out:  "What 
brings  ye  over  here?"  Without  waiting  for  his  brother's  reply  the  older 
man  said:  "It's  the  woman  from  Chicago  and  her  yarns  about  Uncle 
Abe,  I  'low." 

Mr.  William  Hall  did  not  deny  the  accusation,  and  was  formally 
introduced  to  me  and  my  young  friend. 

The  conversation  soon  drifted  into  the  ordinary  channel  in  which 
all  our  conversations  had  run  during  my  sojourn  at  the  famous  old  log 
cabin,  and  in  response  to  a  question  put  by  myself  Mr.  William  Hall 
said:  "Uncle  Abe  wus  much  older  than  any  of  our  family,  yit  he  never 
seemed  to  feel  above  any  of  us.  He'd  set  around  and  tell  us  the 
curousest  stories  ye  ever  heerd." 

Then  addressing  his  brother,  who  had  fallen  asleep  in  his  chair, 
he  roused  him  by  asking  him  if  he  remembered  what  Uncle  Abe  "hed 
told  them  about  the  sun?"  The  reply  was  rather  obscure,  and  the 
brothers  began  to  discuss  more  personal  affairs. 


LINCOLN  FOLK-LORE  STORIES.  165 

Uncle  John  Hall  and  his  younger  brother  indulged  in  many 
reminiscences  of  their  early  life,  and  I  waited  patiently  an  opportunity 
to  interrogate  the  new  comer  in  regard  to  the  sun  story. 

THE    SUN    STANDS    STILL 

The  following  incident  was  related  to  me,  and  is  here  reproduced  in 
William  HalFs  own  vernacular: 

"I  wus  visiting  brother  John,"  said  he,  "and  we  wus  all  a  laying  out 
on  the  grass  under  the  big  locust  tree  at  the  west  end  of  the  cabin,  and 
the  sun  wus  jest  a  sinking  behind  the  clouds,  when  some  of  us  spoke  up 
and  said,  ^the  sun  is  going  down  and  we'd  better  be  doin'  the  chores.' 
Uncle  Abe  wus  visitin'  there  then,"  and  with  a,  decided  movement  that 
startled  me  faced  about  quickly  and  addressed  himself  to  me,  fairly 
thundering  out  his  question:  "Wall,  what  do  ye  suppose  Uncle  Abe 
told  us  that  night  r 

I  could  not  imagine,  nor  did  I  try  to,  but  politely  insisted  that  the 
new  comer  should  unfold  the  wonderful  tale  without  further  delay. 

Again  reverting  to  the  afternoon  scene,  Mr.  Hall  proceeded  to  tell 
the  story  in  the  same  quaint  manner  that  had  distinguished  all  the 
conversations  of  his  elder  brother.  "As  I  was  a  saying,  the  sun  wus 
sinking,  and  when  I  mentioned  the  fact  to  Uncle  Abe  he  jest  stood  right 
up  and  in  sech  a  funny  way  said,  ^No,  the  sun  isn't  a  sinking,  but  we  are 
sinking.'  We  all  thought  Uncle  Abe  had  taken  a  crazy  fit,  and  when 
he  went  on  to  tell  us  the  world  wus  round  and  a  turning  around,  too, 
we  didn't  know  what  to  think  of  him.  So  as  soon  as  we  got  into  the 
house  we  jest  told  Grandmarm  Lincoln,  and  she  said,  ^Abe  knowed 
what  he  wus  talking  about,  if  it  did  sound  crazy.'  " 

Mr.  Hall  paused  in  his  recital,  the  intermission  taking  on  the  com- 
plexion of  a  question,  and  I  preserved  silence,  feeling  sure  that  instinc- 
tively I  had  sized  up  my  man,  who,  when  once  wound  up,  would  "go  on 
forever." 

Breaking  out  with  this  remark,  Mr.  Hall  said:  "Grandpap  Lincoln's 
house  wus  as  full  of  folks  as  it  could  stick,  and  all  of  us,  both  big  and 
little,  begun  to  poke  fun  at  Uncle  Abe,  who  said,  'Just  wait  until  after 


166  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

supper  and  I'll  show  you  how  we  sink,  while  the  sun  is  standing  still.' 
We  all  laughed  fit  to  kill,  and  I  remember  how  Daniel  D.  Johnston 
asked  Uncle  Abe  ef  he  wus'ent  ^cracked?' '' 

Mr.  Hall  again  paused,  but  after  a  moment's  silence  said:  "After 
supper  Uncle  Abe  got  a  'tater  and  put  a  pin  through  a  button  and  stuck 
it  on  the  'tater,  saying,  ^That's  us  right  here/  Then  he  turned  the  'tater 
round  and  round,  and  sometimes  the  button  would  be  on  the  top  and 
then  again  it  w^ould  be  on  tother  side.  When  the  button  wus  on  the 
top  Uncle  Abe  said  4t  wus  daytime^  and  when  it  wus  on  the  bottom 
he  said  4t  wus  night.'  Then  we  all  hollered  and  lafed,  and  some  of  us 
asked  Uncle  Abe  what  kept  the  folks  from  falling  off  when  the  'tater 
wus  bottom  side  up. 

A    NEW    KIND    OF    GLUE 

"Uncle  Abe  jest  looked  at  us  in  a  curous  way  and  told  us  that  there 
wus  'a  kind  of  glue  called  gravity  that  made  people  stick.' "  Again 
Mr.  Hall  paused,  wath  the  expectancy  that  I  would  question  him  further, 
but  getting  no  audible  suggestion  from  me,  he  proceeded  by  saying: 
"What  do  ye  reckon  Uncle  Abe  meant?" 

I  answered  by  propounding  a  question:  "Did  you  never  find  out 
what  Mr.  Lincoln  meant?"  said  I.  "Not  exactly,"  answered  Mr.  Hall, 
"but  I  know  that  Uncle  Abe  was'ent  fur  from  right  when  he  said  the 
world  wus  round  and  the  sun  stood  still,  fur  my  folks  has  been  to  school 
and  the  teacher  says  that's  true." 

At  this  juncture  in  the  conversation  Mr.  William  Hall  announced 
his  intention  of  spending  the  night  with  his  brother,  and  fearing  that  a 
postponement  of  the  stories  till  morning  might  seriously  affect  them, 
I  determined  to  gather  more  information  that  very  night. 

After  having  settled  the  important  fact  that  the  younger  man  could 
share  the  bed  with  his  elder  brother,  and  that  little  Joe  would  sleep  on 
the  floor,  we  drifted  into  further  conversation. 

As  a  preface  I  suggested  that  Mr.  Lincoln  might  have  been  told  or 
perhaps  had  read  of  the  aforesaid  facts  concerning  the  sun,  but  both 
brothers  insisted  that  Uncle  Abe  did  more  thinking  than  reading,  and 


LINCOLN  FOLK-LORE  STORIES.  167 

thej  both  declared  that  their  illustrious  relative  "hed  thought  the  hull 
thing  out." 

'LL    JUST    LAY    AROUND    AND    THINK 

Immediately,  Uncle  John  Hall,  in  order  to  illustrate  the  habit  "fur 
thinking"  that  Mr.  Lincoln  possessed,  told  the  following  little  incident: 

"'Twas  during  the  summer  of  1846  or  '47,"  said  Mr.  Hall,  "that 
Uncle  Abe  come  up  to  the  old  log  cabin  and  stayed  almost  a  month, 
'twas  two  weeks  anyhow,  and  the  reason  that  he  stayed  so  long  wus 
because  he  wanted  to  study  something  out  about  the  law.  Uncle  Abe 
hed  walked  all  the  way  from  Springfield,  about  a  hundred  miles,  and 
seemed  kinder  tired  fur  the  first  two  or  three  days,  and  so  he  said. 
Til  just  lay  around  and  think.' 

"Wall  the  days  went  along  and  Uncle  Abe  kept  doin'  jest  the  same 
kind  of  studying,  a  laying  and  a  thinking,  till  after  a  while  he  said, 
^I've  done  enough  studying  and  I  reckon  I'd  better  go  back  to  Mary.'  " 

Uncle  John  Hall  now  addressed  his  brother  and  said  to  him:    "Don't 

ye  remember  we  hev  talked  with  Uncle  Dennis  Hanks  sence  Uncle 

Abe's  death  about  his  doin'  his  studyin'  in  sech  a  curous  way,  and  Uncle 

Dennis  allers  said  ^it  wus  more  laziness  than  studyin'  or  thinkin' 

either.' " 

THE    HANKS    AMBITION 

Wondering  why  Dennis  Hanks  should  speak  so  disparagingly  of  Mr. 
Lincoln  I  asked  for  the  reason.  It  was  a  mystery  to  both  of  the 
brothers,  who  declared  that  Uncle  Abe  had  always  been  extremely 
kind  and  cordial  to  his  cousin,  but  agreed  that  there  was  one  thing 
that  Uncle  Abe  had  not  done  for  his  relative,  and  that  was,  he  had 
failed  to  bestow  upon  Uncle  Dennis  Hanks  an  ofiicial  position. 

We  fell  into  a  speculative  turn  of  thought,  and  tried  to  make  up 
our  minds  what  position  Dennis  Hanks  would  have  asked  for.  Uncle 
John  Hall  settled  the  matter  by  saying  that  "Uncle  Dennis  and  Uncle 
Abe  both  hed  the  Hanks  ambition,  and  that  nothin'  Avould  hev  suited 
either  of  them  but  the  Presidency  of  the  United  States."  Therefore  we 
all  concluded  that  it  was  genuine  jealousy  and  envy  that  possessed  the 
soul  of  Uncle  Dennis  Hanks. 


168  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

I  reverted  to  my  recent  visit  at  Uncle  Dennis  Hanks'  and  remem- 
bered that  he  had,  upon  several  occasions,  spoken  very  unpleasantly 
of  Mr.  Lincoln;  consequently  I  addressed  the  following  question  to  the 
brothers : 

"Did  not  Dennis  Hanks  ever  speak  kindly  or  admiringly  of  Mr. 
Lincoln?" 

Both  brothers  hastened  to  reply,  but  Uncle  John  Hall  interrupted 
his  brother's  speech  by  saying:  "Don't  ye  mind,  Bill,  how  Uncle  Dennis 
often  bragged  up  Uncle  Abe,  and  sed  he  allers  knowed  he  was  a  nateral 
lawyer,  and  expected  he  wus  goin'  to  git  to  the  top  of  the  ladder? 

THE    RABBIT    STORY 

"It  WUS  right  after  Uncle  Abe  wus  elected  to  be  the  President  of  the 
United  States  that  Uncle  Dennis  told  how  Uncle  Abe  ust  to  try  cases 
when  he  wus  a  young  feller,  and  said  'Abe  could  try  'em  jest  as  good 
as  a  reglar  lawyer.' 

"I  remember  a  rabbit  story  that  Uncle  Dennis  told  me  about.  It 
wus  when  they  all  lived  in  Indiany,  and  Uncle  Abe  was  jest  a  real 
young  feller.  He  ketched  some  boys  chasing  a  poor  rabbit  about  until 
it  was  scared  to  death.  Then  Uncle  Abe  got  up  what  they  call  a  mock 
trial,  and  when  he  sentenced  the  feller  that  hunted  the  rabbit  to  death 
Uncle  Abe  said  he  wus  too  mean  to  be  hung  by  the  neck,  and  he  ordered 
him  hung  by  the  heels." 

Uncle  John  Hall  continued  to  quote  from  Uncle  Dennis,  who  had 
further  informed  him  that  Mr.  Lincoln  was  constantly  going  here  and 
there  to  hear  great  men  speak,  and  upon  one  occasion,  when  the  family 
also  lived  in  Indiana,  Abraham  Lincoln  had  walked  a  good  many  miles  to 
hear  a  famous  lawyer  plead  at  a  murder  trial,  and  when  he  returned 
home — to  usft  Mr,  Hal^s  own  words — "He  got  all  the  folks  together  and 
went  over  the  hull  performance,  and  it  wus  so  good  that  everybody 
clapped  their  hands  and  hollered,  while  Grandmarm  Lincoln  said,  'I'd 
'low  Abe  'ull  be  a  lawyer  hisself.' " 

A    FAMOUS    LAWYER 

No  doubt  this  famous  lawyer  that  Uncle  Dennis  Hanks  referred  to 


LINCOLN  FOLK-LORE  STORIES.  169 

was  the  Hon.  John  A.  Breckenridge,  for  several  of  Mr.  Lincoln^s 
biographers  quote  him  as  saying  to  Mr.  Breckenridge  in  later  years, 
when  that  gentleman  called  upon  the  President  at  the  White  House 
and  suggested  that  he  did  not  recognize  him : 

"Yes,  I  do;  you  are  John  A.  Breckenridge.  I  used  to  walk  thirty-four 
miles  a  day  to  hear  you  plead  law  in  Boonville,  and  listening  to  your 
speeches  at  the  bar  first  inspired  me  with  the  determination  to  be  a 
lawyer." 

We  continued  our  conversation  until  a  late  hour,  and  the  two 
brothers  exchanged  so  many  kindly  sentiments  concerning  Mr.  Lincoln 
that  I  could  not  doubt  that  their  avowed  admiration  for  their  illustrious 
relative  was  as  sincere  as  it  was  outspoken. 

HE    WAS    PROUD    OF    HIMSELF 

A  pause  in  the  conversation  led  me  to  fear  that  story-telling  for 
that  evening  at  least  was  over,  but  again  Uncle  John  Hall  broke  out 
with  his  favorite  remark:  "Ye  mind  how  proud  Uncle  Abe  wus,  don't 
ye,  Bilir 

This  remark  of  Uncle  John's  and  another  diametrically  opposed 
amused  me  greatly,  for  he  had  repeatedly  said  to  me,  "Uncle  Abe  wus 
orful  proud,"  and  in  the  next  breath  had  affirmed  that  "Uncle  Abe  never 
did  nohow  seem  any  different  from  the  rest  of  us." 

Criticising  the  discrepancy  in  these  two  statements,  I  called  Uncle 
John's  attention  to  the  fact.  Immediately  he  undertook  to  explain  the 
difference,  and  in  homely  fashion  determined  the  discrimination  by 
simply  saying,  "Wall,  Uncle  Abe  wus  jest  proud  of  hisself." 

Again  we  referred  to  great  men,  and  when  I  asked  the  brothers  if 
they  had  ever  heard  Mr.  Lincoln  mention  his  acquaintance  with  Henry 
Clay  they  had  no  difficulty  in  remembering  the  fact  that  Mr.  Lincoln 
himself  had  said  that  his  admiration  for  the  famous  orator  and  pro- 
found statesman  was  unbounded  as  a  young  man  and  before  he  had 
met  him,  but  after  a  personal  interview  his  idol  was  shattered. 

LINOOLN    VISITS    HENRY    CLAY 

Again  referring  to  Mr.  Lincoln's  biographers,  it  is  universally  con- 


170  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

ceded  by  many  of  them  that  Mr.  Lincoln  was  disappointed  in  Mr.  Clay 
as  a  speaker. 

Hoping  to  find,  however,  in  a  personal  interview  the  realization  of 
that  wonderful  personality  which  he  had  hitherto  bestowed  upon  his 
favorite,  Abraham  Lincoln  sought  and  obtained  an  introduction  to  Mr. 
Clay.  Again  the  man  was  disappointed,  but  upon  receiving  an  invita- 
tion to  call  upon  the  statesman  at  his  own  beautiful  home,  Ashland, 
Mr.  Lincoln  thankfully  accepted  the  courtesy. 

Again  Mr.  Lincoln  w^as  bitterly  disappointed,  the  humble  and  ad- 
miring man  had  met  the  profound  and  eloquent  orator  at  the  threshold 
of  his  own  castle;  upon  "common  ground"  each  had  touched  the  per- 
sonality of  the  other.  So  much  in  common  between  them,  but  yet  so 
widely  apart;  and  how  was  it  thus? 

Both  were  self-made  men;  one  of  obscure  parentage,  the  other  of 
humble  birth.  Both  of  limited  education;  both  reaching  the  acme  of 
fame  by  the  self -same  road,  daily  and  persistent  exercise  in  reading  and 
thinking  aloud;  both  talking  in  the  cornfields,  both  talking  in  the  forest; 
one  with  only  the  silence  of  nature  and  "dumb  brutes"  to  hear;  the  other 
receiving  the  hearty  applause  of  a  rude  and  lowly  but  appreciative 
gathering. 

One  eloquent  and  magnetic,  holding  the  interest  and  appreciation  of 
cultured  .and  distinguished  audiences;  the  other  forceful,  simple  and 
singular;  swaying  the  common  populace  to  almost  uncontrollable  en- 
thusiasm. 

Both  expressing  themselves  with  an  equal  fervor  upon  the  slavery 
question;  both  believing  and  emphasizing  the  fact  that  slavery  was 
wrong,  and  both  condemning  any  effort  looking  to  a  sudden  and  violent 
termination  of  the  institution. 

One  dying  before  the  awful  insurrection  had  begun  that  led  up  to 
the  final  climax;  the  other  living  to  be  the  instrument  of  retribution 
and  annihilation. 

BOTH    WERE    LEADERS 

Both  leaders;  both  controlled  by  amazing  wills;  both  equally  daunt' 
less  and  courageous;  both  coming  in  contact  with  men  of  all  ranks  and 


LINCOLN  FOLK-LORE  STORIES,  171 

professions;  the  one  proud  and  dignified,  the  other  humble  and  gentle, 
yet  neither  one  felt  that  he  was  in  the  presence  of  a  man  superior  to 
himself. 

Both  were  men  of  whom  the  country  was  never  in  doubt  as  to  their 
opinions  or  purposes.  Both  vieve  men  of  whom  their  fellow-countrymen 
pronounced  soul-inspiring  eulogies. 

Mr.  Breckenridge,  a  life-long  friend  of  Mr.  Clay,  said  of  him :  "If  I 
were  to  write  his  epitaph  I  would  inscribe  on  the  stone  which  shall 
mark  his  last  resting  place,  'Here  lies  a  man  who  was  in  the  public 
service  for  fifty  years  and  never  attempted  to  deceive  his  countrymen.'  " 

Mr.  J.  G.  Holland,  one  of  America's  famous  authors,  wrote  of  the 
dead  President: 

"In  Mr.  Lincoln's  life  and  character  the  American  people  have  re- 
ceived a  benefaction  not  less  in  permanent  importance  and  value  than 
in  the  revolution  in  opinion  and  policy  by  which  he  introduced  them 
to  a  new  national  life.  He  has  given  them  a  statesman  without  a  states- 
man's craftiness,  a  politician  without  a  politician's  meannesses,  a  great 
man  without  a  great  man's  vices,  a  philanthropist  v/ithout  a  philan- 
thropist's impracticable  dreams,  a  Christian  without  pretensions,  a 
ruler  without  the  pride  of  place  and  power,  an  ambitious  man  without 
selfishness,  and  a  successful  man  without  vanity.  On  the  basis  of  such 
manhood  as  this,  all  the  coming  generations  of  the  nation  will  not  fail 
to  build  high  and  beautiful  ideals  of  human  excellence,  whose  attractive 
power  shall  raise  to  a  nobler  level  the  moral  sense  and  moral  character 
of  the  nation.  This  true  manhood — simple,  unpretending,  sympathetic 
with  all  humanity,  and  reverent  toward  God — is  among  the  noblest  of 
the  nation's  treasures;  and  through  it  God  has  breathed,  and  will  con- 
tinue to  breathe,  into  the  nation,  the  elevating  and  purifying  power  of 
His  own  divine  life." 

Why  was  it  that  these  two  great  and  good  men,  not  dissimilar  in 
many  respects,  the  one  in  the  habit  of  graciously  receiving  homage,  the 
other  in  the  habit  of  graciously  bestowing  homage,  were  not  attracted 
to  one  another? 

This  repulsion,  or  rather  unattraction,  was  a  curious  circumstance, 


172  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

and  will  no  doubt  be  a  subject  of  speculation  for  a  long  time  to  come 
among  those  who  read  and  study  the  character  of  these  two  great  men. 

I  KNOW  WHAT  MADE  UNCLE  ABE  SAD 

^fter  the  above  slight  digression,  returning  to  the  brothers,  we  find 
them  still  recounting  incidents  and  reminding  one  another  of  many 
simple  and  unforgotten  events  which  took  place  at  the  different  occa- 
sions upon  which  Mr.  Lincoln  came  up  to  the  old  homestead. 

In  a  very  decided  manner  Uncle  John  Hall  made  the  following  very 
startling  proposition : 

"I  believe,"  he  said,  "that  I  know  what  made  Uncle  Abe  so  sad  like 
and  allers  thinkin'  of  somethin'  away  off." 

Naturally  I  was  alert  and  asked  him  to  give  us  his  judgment  con- 
cerning the  cause  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  sadness.  Nearly  every  one  of  Mr. 
Lincoln's  biographers  in  referring  to  those  frequent  spells  of  extreme 
melancholy  which  overcame  him  attributed  the  cause  to  an  early  love 
affair,  and  I  was  fully  prepared  to  hear  Mr,  Hall  rehearse  the  same 
statement. 

Upon  this  occasion  I  listened  rather  impatiently  to  his  usually 
peculiar  way  of  telling  a  story,  and  was  not  particularly  interested  in 
the  first  details,  although  I  carefully  heeded  the  preface. 

Tipping  back  in  his  chair  and  putting  on  an  air  of  importance  and 
mystery,  he  described  the  time  and  place. 

It  was  twilight  and  "Uncle  Abe"  and  himself  were  strolling  through 
the  woods,  when  Mr.  Lincoln  suddenly  became  abstracted  and  remained 
silent  so  long  that  the  abstraction  and  silence  could  no  longer  be 
endured,  and  Uncle  John  Hall  broke  in  upon  his  relative's  reverie  by 
saying:  "What's  up,  Uncle  Abe?  Are  ye  sad  'cause  Ann  Rutiedge 
died?" 

"Uncle  Abe  shook  his  head  and  said,  'It  isn't  that,  John;  it  isn't 
that.'  Then  he  got  orful  still  again,  and  I  ast  him  ef  I  could  help  him 
out  of  his  trouble.    He  said,  *I  wish  to  God  you  could,  John.' 

"After  waiting  a  few  minutes  longer  he  kinder  looked  around,  and 
then  in  a  low  tone,  almost  a  whisper,  said,  'I  can't  bear  to  think  I  don't 


LINCOLN  FOLK-LORE  STORIES.  173 

know  who  my  grandfather  was.'  Wall,  I  vow,  I  really  thought  he  hed 
gone  crazy,  and  I  said  tu  him  rather  peart  like,  ^Why,  what's  the  matter 
with  ye.  Uncle  Abe?  I  hev  heerd  you  and  grandmarm  many  a  time 
talking  about  yere  grandfather  what  was  killed  by  the  Injuns.'  Uncle 
Abe  looked  at  me  solemn  like  and  said,  ^I  don't  mean  him;  I  mean  my 
mother's  father/ 

HAWKSs    NOT    HANKS 

"I  thought  that  was  rather  a  queer  thing  to  feel  bad  about,  so  I  jest 
said  to  Uncle  Abe,  *Why  don't  you  ask  Uncle  Dennis  about  it?  He  ort 
to  know.' 

"Uncle  Abe  said  he  hed  and  that  Uncle  Dennis  hed  told  him  that 
his  mother's  name  was  Hawks  and  not  Hanks,  and  that  the  name  got 
changed  after  they  came  to  Kantucky.* 

"Uncle  Abe  couldent  stop  talking  about  his  grandfather  that  he 
dident  know,  and  looking  at  me  kinder  sad  like  he  said,  ^I  hope  you 
won't  feel  bad,  John,  but  I  can't  think  that  I  am  jest  exactly  like  the 
rest  of  the  relatives,  and  I  firmly  believe  that  my  grandfather  was  a 
cultured  gentleman  from  Virginia.' 

"Wall,  Uncle  Abe  wus  allers  so  curous  like  that  I  amost  laffed  right 
in  his  face,  but  he  appeared  so  distressed  about  what  he  dident  know  I 
hedent  the  heart  tu. 

"Many  a  time  I  hev  thought  over  and  wondered  what  difference  it 
made  to  Uncle  Abe  whether  he  knowed  or  dident  know  who  his  grand- 
father wus." 

WHAT'S    IN    A    NAME 

The  members  of  the  family  were  now  requested  by  Mr.  Hall  to  retire, 
and  as  the  hour  was  exceedingly  late  no  opposition  was  made  to  his 
request. 

I  could  not  sleep,  and  for  hours  speculated  upon  what  I  had  heard. 

Was  not  Mr.  Lincoln  correct  in  his  surmise?  Would  not  his  ex- 
planation account  for  his  natural  genius,  his  strong  characteristics,  his 


*This  statement  was  corroborated  by  Dennis  Hanks,  upon  whom  I  made  a  «econd 
brief  call. 


174  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

love  for  education,  his  ambition  for  elevation,  and  his  success  in  reach- 
ing the  pinnacle  of  fame? 

The  Bible  tells  us  that  the  iniquities  of  the  fathers  and  mothers 
shall  descend  to  the  third  and  fourth  generations.  Then  why  may 
not  likewise  the  talents  and  good  traits  manifest  themselves  in  the 
succeeding  generations,  even  to  the  fourth  descent?  If  Mr.  Lincoln's 
hypothesis  is  true  then  much  in  his  character  that  heretofore  seemed 
miraculous  and  unaccountable,  is  justified,  and  his  peculiarities  and 
characteristics  were  the  outcome  of  natural  laws. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

MEETING  THE  LITTLE  GIANT  IN   DEBATE 

ONE  of  the  most  remarkable  events  in  Abraham  Lincoln's  life 
was  his  contest  with  Senator  Douglas,  in  1858,  for  the  seat  in 
the  United  States  Senate,  which  was  soon  to  be  vacated  by 
the  expiration  of  the  term  for  which  the  latter  had  been  elected. 

Mr.  Lincoln  often  remarked  that  he  had  watched  the  career  of  Mr. 
Douglas  with  great  interest.  That  his  admiration  for  his  tact  was  un- 
bounded and  the  power  that  Douglas  had  over  the  people  called  forth 
his  respect. 

The  more  modest  man  had  seen  the  powerful  and  influential  man 
winning  the  highest  honors,  and  if  he  did  not  envy  him  it  was  not 
because  he  was  not  ambitious,  but  because  envy  had  no  place  in  the 
heart  of  the  humble  man. 

From  the  original  manuscript  the  following  is  clipped,  and  in 
Mr.  Lincoln's  own  words:  "Twenty-two  years  ago  Judge  Douglas  and  I 
became  acquainted.  We  were  both  young  then — he  a  trifle  younger 
than  I.  Even  then  we  were  both  ambitious — I,  perhaps,  quite  as  much 
as  he.  With  me  the  race  of  ambition  has  been  a  failure — a  flat  failure; 
with  him,  it  has  been  one  of  splendid  success.  His  name  fills  the  nation, 
and  is  not  unknown  even  in  foreign  lands. 

"I  affect  no  contempt  for  the  high  eminence  he  has  reached.  To 
reach  that  the  oppressed  of  my  species  might  have  shared  with  me  the 
elevation.  I  would  rather  stand  on  that  eminence  than  wear  the  richest 
crown  that  ever  pressed  a  monarch's  brow." 

DOUGLAS  RENOMINATED  FOR  SENATOR 

On  the  21st  of  April,  1858,  the  Democratic  convention  of  Illinois 
assembled  and  endorsed  Mr.  Douglas  for  Senatorial  honors,  and  on  the 
16th  of  June,  nearly  two  months  later,  the  Kepublican  convention  con- 
vened, and  the  following  resolution  was  unanimously  adopted: 

175 


176  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

"That  Hon.  Abraham  Lincoln  is  our  first  and  only  choice  for  United 
States  Senator,  to  fill  the  vacancy  about  to  be  created  by  the  expiration 
of  Mr.  Douglas'  term  of  office.'' 

Mr.  Lincoln  did  not  plead  ignorance  concerning  the  intention  of  the 
convention,  but,  anticipating  a  favorable  result,  had  prepared  a 
speech  with  unusual  care,  and  in  the  subject  matter  of  that  speech  he 
had  incorporated  the  issues  of  the  campaign,  and  had  laid  out  the 
ground  upon  which  he  proposed  to  stand. 

Before  going  to  the  State  House  to  deliver  his  speech,  Mr.  Lincoln 
read  the  opening  paragraph  to  his  law  partner,  who  advised  him  not 
to  give  utterance  to  the  sentiments  that  it  contained.  Although  true, 
he  did  not  consider  it  wise  to  voice  them  at  that  time. 

The  particular  sentence  to  which  his  partner  objected  is  the  follow- 
ing: "I  believe  this  Government  cannot  endure  permanently  half  slave 
and  half  free."  Mr.  Lincoln  replied:  "The  proposition  is  true,  and  I 
will  deliver  it  as  it  is  written." 

The  entire  speech  was  read,  and  its  earnestness  and  patriotism  con- 
vinced the  convention  that  he  had  chosen  wisely. 

The  two  stalwart  partisans  retired  to  prepare  for  the  oncoming 
battle  of  words.  And  now  the  grand  senatorial  campaign  of  1858  was 
begun,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  either  followed  close  at  the  heels  of  Mr.  Douglas 
or  Mr.  Douglas  came  in  just  after  Mr.  Lincoln's  round.  In  this  fashion 
the  campaign  went  on,  until  Mr.  Lincoln  concluded  to  arrange  for  closer 
work,  and  to  that  end  in  view  he  sent  to  Mr.  Douglas  the  following 
communication: 

DOUGLAS    ACCEPTS    THE    CHALLENGE 

Hon.  S.  A.  Douglas. 

My  dear  Sir:  Will  it  be  agreeable  to  you  to  make  an  arrangement 

for  you  and  myself  to  divide  time  and  address  the  same  audiences  the 

present  canvass?    Mr.  Judd,  who  will  hand  you  this,  is  authorized  to 

receive  your  answer,  and,  if  agreeable  to  you,  to  enter  into  the  terms 

of  such  agreement. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

A.  LINCOLN. 


MEETING  THE  LITTLE  GIANT  IN  DEBATE.  177 

To  this  communication  Mr.  Douglas  replied  that  recent  events  had 
arisen  that  would  exclude  such  an  arrangement.  Yet,  while  he  declined 
the  general  invitation,  he  said  he  was  willing  to  make  an  arrangement 
for  seven  joint  debates  which  should  take  place  in  districts  where  they 
had  not  already  spoken. 

Some  further  correspondence  passed  between  them  until  a  satis- 
factory agreement  was  reached  and  equally  satisfactory  terms  accepted. 
When  the  final  arrangements  had  been  completed,  there  yet  remained 
three  weeks  before  the  joint  debate  should  take  place.  In  the  interim, 
both  of  the  gentlemen  kept  on  with  their  independent  work. 

At  last  the  day  arrived,  and  the  first  meeting  of  the  series  agreed 
upon  was  held  at  Ottawa,  111.,  according  to  appointment.  A  gathering 
of  citizens,  estimated  at  twelve  thousand,  had  gathered  to  witness  the 
wonderful  struggle,  a  struggle  between  two  giants — one  who  believed 
he  was  doing  his  duty,  and  the  other  who  certainly  could  not  believe  that 
his  own  propositions  were  just  and  honest. 

And  thus  the  two  great  men  were  pitted  against  each  other,  the  one 
a  college-bred  man,  cultured,  brilliant,  eloquent,  the  associate  and  com- 
panion of  distinguished  men  and  accomplished  women;  the  other  a 
plain  man,  self-made,  awkward,  homely,  uncultured,  lonely,  and  sad, 
the  early  associate  of  untutored  men  and  women,  but  always,  then  as 
now,  a  great  soul,  honest,  faithful,  kind — the  defender  of  the  weak  and 
the  downtrodden,  the  protector  of  the  innocent  and  helpless — his  great 
personality  filled  with  the  inspiration  of  love  and  righteousness. 

BATTLE    OF    INTELLECTS 

Crowds  of  men  and  women  flocked  to  witness  the  battle  of  the  intel- 
lectual giants.  The  enthusiasm  was  intense.  Men  and  women  grew 
dizzy  with  excitement,  and  as  the  debate  lengthened  and  proceeded  the 
interest  did  not  flag,  but,  if  possible,  increased  and  grew  more  intense. 
"Never  was  an  audience  more  completely  electrified  by  human  elo- 
quence." 

Mr.  Lincoln's  logical  reasoning  and  humorous  attacks  were  so  well 
directed  and  his  exposures  of  the  iniquities  and  untruths  of  Mr.  Doug- 


178  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

las'  legislative  action  were  so  convincing  and  overwhelming  that  the 
*^little  giant"  knew  that  he  was  worsted,  was  beaten  by  the  power  of 
honest  thought,  made  into  honest  words  and  delivered  by  an  honest 
man.  Thus  the  little  giant  was  defeated  and  thus  he  retired,  promising 
to  speak  no  more  during  that  campaign. 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  beaten  in  his  contest  for  the  seat  of  Mr.  Douglas  in 
the  Senate,  but  how  it  happened  was  quite  a  mystery  to  the  ordinary 
person,  for  Mr.  Lincoln's  plurality  was  four  thousand  one  hundred  and 
forty-four  votes  over  Mr.  Douglas.  Had  the  people  been  permitted  to 
decide  the  question,  he  would  have  secured  the  Senatorial  honors;  but 
the  State  Legislature  was  the  tribunal  that  was  to  pass  finally  upon  it, 
and  its  decision  was  against  Mr.  Lincoln's  election.  There  were  four- 
teen Democratic  members  in  the  State  Senate  and  forty  in  the  House, 
thus  it  was  that  Mr.  Douglas  was  reseated. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  defeated  after  having  passed  through  a  pow- 
erful and  persistent  contest,  a  contest  that  had  been  fought  by  him, 
fairly,  good-naturedly,  magnanimously,  and  with  a  skill  rarely  if  ever 
surpassed. 

TOO    BIG    TO    CRY 

No  doubt  Mr.  Lincoln  felt  disappointed  at  his  defeat,  for  he  fras 
human,  and  to  be  human  is  to  be  ambitious;  however,  he  made  no 
further  allusion  to  the  matter  than  to  give  one  of  his  characteristically 
quaint  and  humorous  replies  when  he  was  asked  how  he  felt,  as  the 
returns  came  in  announcing  his  defeat.  "Too  badly  to  laugh,"  he  said, 
and  "too  big  to  cry." 

Though  defeated  in  the  senatorial  contest  he  did  not  retire  to  the 
privacy  of  a  "done-up  politician."  The  admiration  of  the  people  for 
Abraham  Lincoln  was  greater  than  ever,  and  the  masses  in  the  West 
cherished  profound  respect  for  the  man,  whose  purpose  had  always 
been  to  serve  the  highest  and  best. 

His  masterly  effort  in  handling  the  great  and  oncoming  issue  of  the 
country;  his  significant  and  solemn  words  concerning  the  result  if 
unwise  or  careless  action  should  be  employed,  and  his  promises  and  vows 


MEETING  THE  LITTLE  GIANT  IN  DEBATE.  179 

to  stand  by  the  people  in  their  liour  of  perplexity  and  doubt,  built  up  for 
him  a  reputation  that  could  never  be  overthrown  and  a  love  that  could 
never  be  repudiated. 

The  year  1858  and  the  following  one  found  Mr.  Lincoln  in  compara- 
tive leisure,  although  he  had  all  of  the  professional  business  that  he 
could  attend  to.  His  enemies  and  many  of  his  friends  and  acquaintances 
said,  "Lincoln  appears  to  be  pretty  quiet  now-a-days,"  and  many  wise- 
acres shook  their  heads  gravely,  and  solemnly  declared  that  the  contest 
through  which  he  had  recently  passed  and  the  defeat  he  had  suffered 
liad  "completely  used  up  Abe  Lincoln." 

It  w^as  not  so,  for  the  man  towards  whom  these  thoughts  were 
directed  and  of  whom  these  words  were  spoken  was  quietly  biding  his 
time,  preparing  for  the  struggle  that  he  knew  was  coming  to  the  nation. 

After  this  period  of  rest  and  apparent  lack  of  interest  in  national 
affairs,  the  silent  man  bestirred  himself,  and  again  appeared  in  the 
political  arena. 

THE    WESTERN    TRIP 

His  attention  was  turned  to  the  people  of  that  territory  which  was 
embraced  in  Mr.  Douglas'  proposed  bill,  and  to  that  district  he  directed 
his  course  of  action. 

Westward,  ho!  he  went,  and  the  people  of  that  land  received  him 
and  made  of  him  an  elder  brother;  aye,  even  more  than  that,  they  wel- 
comed him  as  the  champion  of  justice  and  the  hero  who  had  fought  their 
battles  with  such  masterly  ability  and  skill.  On  entering  the  principal 
towns  he  w^as  met  by  large  processions  of  people  and  escorted  by  them 
to  the  places  of  assembly.  Dense  crowds  gathered  upon  the  sidewalks 
that  lined  the  passage,  while  windows,  doors  and  porches  were  filled 
with  women  and  children  anxious  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  man  whose 
cry  of  warning  had  gone  out  and  reached  the  people  of  this  Western 
world. 

The  time  arrived  for  his  speechmaking.  The  halls  were  crowded  to 
suffocation,  and  the  audiences  were  wild  with  enthusiasm.  When  his 
Western  tour  was  ended,  he  had  gained  the  affections  and  secured  the 


180  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

trust  of  nearly  every  man  and  woman  in  Kansas  and  its  adjacent 
territory. 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  now  aroused  to  such  a  strong  conviction  of  the  com- 
ing struggle  that  he  laid  aside  personal  comfort,  and  went  into  the  fight 
with  all  the  determination  and  vigor  of  a  soul  that  realizes  the  danger 
ahead  and  is  preparing  to  meet  the  onslaught 

WHO    SHOULD    SAY    HISVi    NAY 

Mr.  Lincoln  may  have  had  ambition  for  greater  political  honor  than 
he  had  yet  received.  Be  that  so,  the  service  that  he  was  rendering 
his  country  was  grand,  powerful,  honest  and  well-directed,  and  if  he 
desired  to  hold  the  reins  of  Government  who  had  the  right  to  say  to 
him  nay?  Who  could  decry  his  works?  Who  could  defame  his  honor? 
Who  could  assail  his  intent?  And  who  could  question  his  purpose? 
What  other  man  in  the  broad  land  could  equal  him  in  word  or  deed? 
What  other  man  could  stand  side  by  side  with  him  and  deal  as  forceful 
blows  for  right  and  justice?  What  other  man  had  so  clearly  outlined 
the  perils  that  threatened  the  country?  What  other  man  had  so  boldly 
proclaimed  the  result  that  surely  would  come  to  a  divided  nation? 
What  other  man  had  the  courage  to  antagonize  a  large  and  prosperous 
section  because  he  believed  that  the  wrong  should  be  righted  and  the 
oppressed  delivered?  No  one.  Then  why  should  not  this  man  use  his 
strength  and  exercise  his  power? 

Abraham  Lincoln  had  made  a  tremendous  impression  upon  all  who 
had  heard  him.  His  strange  and  peculiar  influence  was  quietly  leaven- 
ing the  whole  mass,  and  many  were  watching  his  future  with  intense 
interest  He  was  now  a  central  figure,  an  unique  figure,  that  stood 
out  boldly  and  defied  the  opinions  of  men. 

WHO    IS    ABRAHAM    LINOOLN 

He  was  a  representative  man,  and  already  was  regarded,  by  the 
masses  of  the  new  party,  at  the  West,  as  the  best  man  for  the  next  Presi- 
dential campaign. 

His  masterly  debates  with  Mr.  Douglas  had  been  talked  about  and 


MEETING  THE  LITTLE  GIANT  IN  DEBATE,  181 

had  been  read;  but  still  he  was  not  much  known  among  the  people  of 
the  East 

His  field  of  labor  and  speech  was  so  distant  and  so  peculiarly  simple 
and  plainly  honest  that  the  cultured  politicians  and  their  followers 
knew  but  little  of  the  great  Western  giant.  Had  they  been  told  that 
in  so  short  a  space  of  time,  less  than  two  years,  that  Abraham  Lincoln 
would  be  elected  President  of  the  United  States  many,  very  many, 
would  have  said,  "Who  is  Abraham  Lincoln  ?''  But  at  the  West  every- 
body knew  "Old  Abe."  He  was  the  friend  of  the  people,  "the  cham- 
pion of  freedom  and  free  labor."  To  look  upon  him  wasi  to  look  upon 
a  lion.  To  shake  hands  with  him  was  such  a  privilege  that  the  favored 
one  was  boastful  in  the  extreme. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

THE    HONEST    LAWYER 

THOUGH  Mr.  Lincoln  had  been  intensely  absorbed  in  and  devoted 
to  the  political  issues  of  the  times,  yet  he  had  established  an  ex- 
tensive law  practice,  although  not  a  particularly  lucrative  one. 
Many  of  his  clients  were  poor  and  unfortunate,  and  the  "good  man" 
had  defended  them  without  fees,  for  his  generous  heart  could  never 
refuse  an  appeal  for  help. 

Mr.  Lincoln^s  career  as  a  lawyer  covered  a  period  of  a  quarter  of  a 
century,  beginning  in  1835. 

When  he  began  his  professional  life,  he  was  an  obscure  and  un- 
promising youth,  with  but  little  learning.  Step  by  step,  with  patient 
industry  and  unflinching  determination,  he  climbed  the  ladder  of  pro- 
fessional advancement,  until  he  stood  among  the  foremost  lawyers  of 
the  West. 

For  the  benefit  of  young  men  contemplating  a  legal  profession,  would 
it  not  be  interesting  to  go  over  the  ground  covering  Mr.  Lincoln's  life  as 
a  student  at  law  and  a  practitioner? 

No  doubt  an  account  of  the  hard  and  severe  lines  drawn  around  his 
earliest  attempts  and  subsequent  years  of  endeavor  and  effort  will 
reconcile  many  a  discouraged  man  to  the  lesser  hardships  of  the  present 
time.  The  history  of  his  legal  battles,  the  successes  of  his  later  years 
and  the  reputation  that  he  established  for  honesty,  fairness  and  achieve- 
merif  will  urge  the  aspiring  student  to  renewed  effort  and  direct  his 
thoughts  into  healthful  channels. 

The  study  of  law  with  Mr.  Lincoln  had  been  long  and  tedious.  He 
had  picked  it  up  at  odd  times,  as  he  could  secure,  now  and  then,  a  few 
spare  moments  from  duties  that  were  often  disagreeable  and  of  seem- 
ingly no  importance. 

After  having  waited  upon  a  customer  in  the  little  country  store,  he 
would  turn  to  his  book  and  snatch  a  sentence  here  and  there.    Then 

182 


THE  HONEST  LAWYER.  183 

again  he  would  rise  early  in  the  morning  or  sit  by  the  flickering  light 
of  a  tallow  dip  late  into  the  night  striving  to  read  and  ponder  over  the 
words,  and  sentences,  and  phrases  that  made  up  the  only  law  book  that 
he  possessed. 

ADVANTAGES  AND  DISADVANTAGES 

How  different  from  now-a-days,  when  the  young  student  has  all  the 
advantages  of  a  complete  law  library.  He  finds  all  of  the  books  that 
he  desires  or  needs  in  the  offices  of  the  lawyers  with  whom  he  is  study- 
ing. Or,  if  combining  the  study  of  law  with  his  means  of  a  livelihood, 
he  goes  to  the  public  libraries,  which  are  always  open,  and  spends  his 
evenings  and  any  other  time  that  he  may  command  as  his  own  in  the 
quiet  and  comfortable  rooms,  set  apart  for  reference  and  reading.  The 
poor  boy  has  the  same  privilege  to  study  and  use  the  lore  that  his  rich 
neighbor  has,  and  thus  he  is  denied  neither  books,  warmth  nor  light. 

Mr.  Lincoln^s  struggle  for  an  education,  and  especially  a  legal  edu- 
cation, went  on  into  the  years  of  his  manhood  until  at  last  he  had 
acquired  sufficient  learning  to  admit  him  to  the  bar,  but  the  unyielding 
struggle  for  a  livelihood  still  kept  up. 

All  the  first  years  of  his  legal  experience  were  hard  and  severe,  and 
his  lack  of  a  thorough  legal  education  was  hard  to  overcome,  but  the 
man  did  not  give  up,  though  he  may  have  lost  heart  oftentimes. 

There  were  then,  as  now,  great  lawyers,  scholarly  men,  deep  and 
able,  and  these  men  Mr.  Lincoln  came  in  contact  with.  They  did  not 
dishearten  or  abash  him,  but  gave  him  the  incentive  to  strive  more  and 
struggle  harder  for  the  mastery. 

This  he  could  not  fail  to  accomplish,  for  industry,  energy  and  per- 
severance always  succeed,  and  all  those  qualities  he  possessed. 

Mr.  Lincoln  took  whatever  came  to  him,  and  put  his  best  efforts  into 
his  work.  It  was  soon  discovered  by  his  legal  friends  or  opponents  and 
his  clients  that  his  great  common  sense  led  him  into  a  just  and  fair 
conception  of  a  man's  legal  rights,  and  upon  this  principle  all  his  suits 
were  tried.  This  truth  never  w^ent  back  on  him,  and  thus  from  year  to 
year  his  experience  ripened  and  his  education  went  right  on. 

Mr.  Lincoln^s  legal  career  was  remarkable  because  of  the  extreme 


184  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

disadvantages  under  which  he  secured  the  right  to  practice  law.  It  Is 
an  example  that  every  boy  should  profit  by,  and  see  in  it  the  possibility 
of  accomplishing  any  result,  no  matter  how  difficult  and  thorny  the  path 
may  be  that  leads  up  to  it. 

A    POWERFUL    ADVOCATE 

This  wonderful  man  had  so  won  the  esteem  and  admiration  of  the 
people  of  his  own  town  and  State  that  he  was  alluded  to  as  the  first 
lawyer  in  the  State.  Although  not  regarded  by  his  legal  friends  and 
associates  as  a  learned  counselor,  he  was  considered  a  powerful 
advocate. 

Into  all  the  years  of  his  professional  life  he  carried  his  principles  of 
fairness,  and  never  resorted  to  trickery  or  chicanery.  He  was  shrewd 
to  be  sure,  but  never  cunning;  he  was  clever,  but  never  dishonest.  He 
always  made  it  a  point  not  to  take  a  case  in  which  he  did  not  believe 
that  he  was  on  the  side  of  justice.  But  before  deciding  in  his  own  mind 
he  employed  every  possible  means  to  get  at  the  truth,  and  if  he  then  de- 
termined to  reject  the  case  he  charged  no  fee  for  the  work  that  had  been 
done,  no  matter  how  laborious,  nor  how  much  time  had  been  engaged. 
Upon  the  other  hand,  however,  a  cause  once  espoused  he  entered  into  the 
legal  arena  with  all  the  force  and  vigor  of  an  ancient  Spartan.  Mr, 
Lincoln  used  none  of  the  legal  tactics  entertained  by  the  ordinary 
modern  lawyer. 

He  did  not  attempt  to  confuse  or  badger  a  witness.  His  questions 
were  plain  and  practical,  and  ever  had  a  direct  bearing  upon  the  point 
at  issue,  and  never  otherwise. 

RIGHT    WUST    PREVAIL 

Then  the  fairness  that  he  was  wont  to  represent  was  real  and  n^ 
mistake  about  it.  Coming  from  the  people,  and  having  passed  all  the 
years  of  his  life  among  them,  he  understood  all  their  methods,  manners 
and  ideas,  and  it  was  this  knowledge  of  their  daily  life  and  his  sym> 
pathy  in  their  affairs  that  made  him  so  successful  and  popular. 

Mr.  Lincoln  devoted  himself  to  the  real  issue  of  the  question  to  the 
rights  of  his  clients,  irrespective  of  himself  or  his  distinction;  therefore 


THE  HONEST  LAWYER.  iS5 

he  did  nothing  to  dazzle  the  juiy  or  to  captivate  the  audience,  the 
simple  eloquence  of  justice  and  the  divine  power  of  equity  were  his 
armaments.  So  sure  was  he  that  right  would  prevail  and  that  dis- 
honesty and  fraud  would  be  their  own  executioners,  that  he  merely 
led  the  unwary  victim  quietly  and  surely  along  the  fatal  plank  which 
carried  him  to  his  just  doom. 

Mr.  Lincoln's  legal  fees  were  regarded  by  the  brethren  of  the  "law 
craft"  as  ridiculously  small,  and  more  than  once  he  was  chided  by 
lawyer  associates,  who  taxed  him  with  robbing  the  profession  of  its 
just  dues.  To  these  remarks  it  is  said  Mr.  Lincoln  replied,  "The  law 
permits  no  man  to  be  robbed,  and  neither  does  it  rob  any  man." 

ARBITRATION    VERSUS    CONTESTS 

He  was  the  poor  man's  friend,  the  widow's  adviser  and  the  orphan's 
counselor.  Their  appeals  and  claims  were  never  rejected.  Unselfish 
attention  was  only  given  to  their  complaints,  and  such  counsel  admin- 
istered as  lawyers  generally  indulge  in.  Arbitration  rather  than  contest 
was  his  motto,  and  upon  this  healthful  and  wise  method  were  hisi 
decisions  based. 

It  is  the  universal  testimony  of  many  of  his  old  associates  that  more 
cases,  by  his  advice,  were  settled  without  trial  than  were  ever  carried 
by  Lincoln  into  the  courts,  and  oftentimes  without  charge  to  his  clients. 

A  biographer  of  Mr.  Lincoln  testifies  to  the  use  of  his  time  and  talent, 
and  the  fact  that  he  was  a  poor  man,  in  the  following  statement,  "That 
with  greater  love  of  money  and  less  sympathy  for  his  fellows,  he  might 
have  easily  acquired  a  fortune." 

Perhaps  it  would  be  rather  strong  language  to  say  that  Mr.  Lincoln 
never  tried  a  case  for  the  money  that  was  in  it,  but  he  was  known  to 
have  conducted  many  cases  without  finding  any  money  in  them. 

The  poor  and  weak  never  applied  to  him  in  vain.  He  was  ever  ready 
to  defend  them,  and  often  instead  of  receiving  a  fee  for  his  services,  paid 
out  money  to  carry  on  the  case. 

In  one  instance,  if  not  in  more,  he  did  not  wait  to  be  called  upon,  but 
offered  his  services  without  monev  and  without  price. 


1S6  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

THE    FAMOUS    MURDER    TRIAL 

The  son  of  a  woman  who  had  been  kind  and  helpful  to  Mr.  Lincoln, 
when  a  poor  young  man,  had  been  held  to  trial  for  an  alleged  murder. 
The  scene  of  the  murder  was  some  distance  from  Springfield,  and  Mr. 
Lincoln  knew  nothing  of  the  merits  of  the  case,  but  he  knew  that  his 
old  friend  was  in  sore  trouble.  He  wrote  immediately  to  the  distressed 
mother  and  offered  his  serrices,  and  they  were  thankfully  accepted.  The 
excitement  attending  the  circumstance  of  the  murder  was  so  great 
that  Mr.  Lincoln  felt  that  justice  could  not  be  secured  at  any  price, 
therefore  a  postponement  of  the  trial  was  secured,  and  then  Mr.  Lincoln 
took  time  to  inquire  thoroughly  into  the  particulars  of  the  case.  He 
became  convinced  that  the  man  was  innocent,  and  in  his  own  wav  he 
set  to  work  to  clear  him  of  the  foul  charge. 

A  change  of  trial  was  obtained  and  the  case  came  up  at  the  appointed 
time.  To  all  but  Mr.  Lincoln  it  seemed  a  hopeless  affair,  and  everyone, 
without  a  single  dissenting  voice,  declared  that  the  man  would  be  found 
guilty. 

Mr.  Lincoln's  destruction  of  the  evidence  against  the  prisoner  was 
wonderful,  and  his  plea  for  the  freedom  of  the  accused  was  powerful. 
Bo  completely  overthrown  was  the  damaging  evidence  and  so  convinc- 
ing was  the  plea  of  innocence  that  the  jury  returned  with  a  verdict  of 
"Not  guilty"  in  less  than  an  hour. 

The  thankful  mother  and  grateful  son  could  not  express  their  grati- 
tude in  adequate  words.  Mr.  Lincoln  relieved  their  embarrassment  and 
anxiety  by  simply  saying,  "I  have  now  discharged  an  old  debt." 

Abraham  Lincoln  never  forgot  a  kindness,  no  matter  how  small  or 
insignificant.  He  treasured  the  deed  and  ever  kept  it  in  grateful  re- 
membrance, hoping  and  longing  for  the  day  when  he  should  be  able 
to  not  only  return  the  favor  but  add  to  it  the  interest  of  love  and 
faithfulness. 

VISITS    CHIOAGO 

Though  Mr.  Lincoln's  practice  was,  as  heretofore  stated,  largely  a 
country  clientele,  yet  he  now  and  then  came  to  Chicago  for  the  purpose 


THE  HONEST  LAWYER.  187 

of  attending  such  cases  as  he  might  have  in  the  United  States  District 
Court 

Unlike  most  men  who,  having  been  brought  up  in  the  country, 
usually  seek  the  ordinary  street  sights  and  evening  pleasures  of  city 
life,  Mr.  Lincoln  rather  avoided  them  and  rambled  along  the  quiet 
shores  of  the  great  lake.  His  various  homes  had  all  been  located  in 
inland  territory,  and  the  vast  expanse  of  water  which  greeted  his  vision 
at  Chicago  delighted  him. 

Spending  an  evening  with  a  friend  who  resided  on  Michigan  dvenue, 
and  from  whose  house  an  uninterrupted  view"  of  the  lake  was  obtained, 
Mr.  Lincoln  remarked  to  his  hostess,  "I  am  sure  there  can  be  no  more 
beautiful  sight  than  this  before  us." 

The  moon  was  at  its  greatest  brilliancy,  and  not  a  cloud  obscured 
its  splendor.  A  gentle  breeze  stirred  the  bosom  of  the  lake,  and  the 
moonbeams  played  hide  and  seek  with  the  frolicsome  ripples.  They 
lapped  the  shore  in  sportive  play  and  their  musical  monotone  fell  on 
listening  ears. 

The  man  so  unacquainted  with  other  than  plain  and  undiversified 
country  was  deeply  affected,  and  said  to  his  friends,  "I  hope  some  day 
to  visit  the  beautiful  and  picturesque  countries  of  foreign  lands  and 
view  their  wonderful  scenery."  Pausing  a  moment,  then  rising  to  his 
full  height,  he  bent  forward  and  scrutinized  the  scene.  His  face  was 
aglow  with  delight.  Turning  to  the  little  group  of  people  he  said  with 
unusual  enthusiasm,  "I  have  always  wanted  to  see  the  Bay  of  Naples, 
but  can  there  be  anything  more  splendid  than  this  magnificent  sheet 
of  water?" 

Mr.  Lincoln  possessed  even  at  this  period  in  his  career  a  number  of 
admirers  among  the  then  prominent  citizens  of  Chicago,  w^ho  recognized 
the  man's  sterling  worth  long  before  the  outside  world  talked  of  him, 
and  prophesied  his  future  greatness. 

AN  ARRAY  OF  LEGAL  TALENT 

Though  Mr.  Lincoln  was  modest  in  the  extreme,  so  far  as  his  mer itir 
worth  or  ability  were  concerned,  yet  when  his  self-esteem  was  touched 


188  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

or  his  ideas  of  right  and  propriety  attacked,  he  wa»  as  quick  to  resent 
such  affronts  as  any  other  man. 

An  important  suit,  McCormick  versus  Manney,  was  pending  in  Cin- 
cinnati,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  had  been  engaged  by  the  defense  to  make  a 
speech,  the  fee  for  the  same  being  one  thousand  dollars  and  paid  in 
advance. 

The  day  arrived  and  Mr.  Lincoln  set  out  for  Cincinnati,  where  he 
arrived  in  a  most  deplorable  condition.  His  tall,  gaunt  figure  was  en- 
cased in  a  long  linen  duster,  soiled  with  the  grime  and  dust  of  a  long 
journey  and  streaked  with  perspiration.  A  high  hat  perched  upon  his 
head  added  to  his  unusual  stature,  and  he  did  indeed  present  a  ludicrous 
picture. 

The  verdict  was  given  by  the  citizens  of  Cincinnati  that  the  Western 
lawyer  might,  perhaps,  be  something  of  a  speaker,  but  versed  in  legal 
lore — oh,  no!  never. 

The  array  of  legal  talent  upon  either  side  was  most  brilliant:  Hon. 
Eeverdy  Johnson,  for  the  McCormicks;  and  the  Hon.  Edwin  M.  Stanton, 
with  several  other  lawyers  equally  as  great,  and  Abraham  Lincoln,  for 
the  defense. 

THE    WESTERN    LAWYER 

Mr.  Lincoln's  attire  and  Western  manners  attracted  even  more  com- 
ment in  the  court  room  than  they  had  upon  the  streets,  and  when  he 
entered  the  halls  of  justice  and  took  his  seat  with  the  other  legal  gen- 
tlemen his  droll  appearance  created  considerable  amusement. 

Mr.  Stanton  refused  to  speak  if  Mr.  Lincoln  did,  giving  for  his  excuse 
that  he  did  not  care  to  publicly  associate  himself  with  the  uncouth 
Western  lawyer. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  apprised  of  the  statement  that  Mr.  Stanton 
nad  made,  and  though  surprised  and  offended  simply  acquiesced.  When 
it  came  Mr.  Lincoln's  turn  to  make  the  speech  which  he  had  prepared, 
and,  without  exposing  Mr.  Stanton,  he  quietly  and  dispassionately 
remarked,  "I  have  nothing  to  say." 

It  was  contrary  to  Mr.  Lincoln's  sense  of  right  to  accept  remunera- 


EARLY    PHOTOGRAPH    OF    ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

(By  courteyy  of  H.  W.  Fay,  DeKalb,  HI.) 

The  above  photograph  was  taken  at  the  time  of  Lincoln's  famous 
Cooper  Institute  speech,  N.  Y.  City. 


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cfi  -^ 

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THE  HONEST  LAWYER,  189 

tion  for  unperformed  service,  and  the  man's  reputation  for  honesty  was 
so  thoroughly  established  that  his  friends  were  not  in  the  least  surprised 
when  they  learned  that  he  had  returned  the  fee. 

At  this  time  Mr.  Lincoln  was  a  poor  man,  a  very  poor  man,  and  to 
many  another  man,  in  the  same  situation,  the  temptation  would  have 
been  great  indeed,  so  great  that  no  doubt  the  money  would  have  been 
retained,  claiming  that  it  was  no  fault  of  his  that  he  did  not  perform 
the  service. 

ABOVE    RESENTMENT 

Mr.  Lincoln  never  forgot  the  slight,  but  did  not  allow  the  matter 
to  interfere  with  an  after  conclusion  that  Mr.  Stanton  was  the  proper 
man  to  serve  in  his  cabinet  as  Secretary  of  War. 

With  Mr.  Lincoln's  modest  estimate  of  his  own  services  and  his 
friendly  feeling  to  all  of  his  clients  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that 
he  made  no  money,  that  he  was  not  able  to  indulge  in  luxuries,  and 
oftentimes  lacked  the  modest  comforts  of  daily  life. 

But  w^hat  is  wealth  compared  to  his  matchless  character,  to  his 
manly  deeds,  to  his  kind  and  considerate  thought^  to  his  honesty  and 
integrity,  to  his  sympathy  and  tenderness,  to  his  unflinching  purpose 
and  his  glorious  death? 

The  boy  is  father  to  the  man.  His  childhood  was  pregnant  with  the 
possibilities  of  his  wonderful  future,  his  youth  was  prophetic  of  his 
manly  character,  his  manhood  was  the  realization  of  all  loveliness,  and 
his  translation  was  the  birth  of  an  archangel. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

THE  FAMOUS  EASTERN  TRIP 

THE  latter  part  of  1859  and  the  first  months  of  1860  Mr.  Lincoln 
had  visited  various  portions  of  tjie  United  States  and  delivered 
a  number  of  masterful  speeches.    His  fame  as  a  political  speaker 
was  growing,  and  now  the  Eastern  cities  were  calling  him. 

It  would  be  foolish  to  think  that  Abraham  Lincoln  was  not  flattered 
with  the  honor  thus  conferred  upon  him ;  that  he  should  really  be  de- 
sired by  the  learned  and  cultured  citizens  of  the  older  and  more 
advanced  section  of  the  United  States. 

He  was  delighted  at  the  prospect  of  so  extended  a  trip,  and  also 
pleased  that  he  had  won  the  right  to  addresis  such  audiences  as  he 
would  meet  in  the  large  and  wealthy  cities  of  the  East.  He  hoped  also 
that  he  might  have  the  opportunity  of  meeting  in  debate  his  old  antag- 
onist. Judge  Douglas. 

The  opportunity  came  at  last  through  the  press  of  New  York,  and 
an  invitation  was  extended  to  him  to  speak  in  Brooklyn  at  Henry  Ward 
Beecher's  church. 

On  Saturday,  the  25th  day  of  February,  1860,  Mr.  Lincoln  arrived  in 
New  York  city,  and  learned  that  instead  of  speaking  at  Mr.  Beecher's 
church,  as  heretofore  announced,  it  had  been  arranged  to  have  him  give 
his  address  at  the  Cooper  Institute  in  New  York  city.  On  learning 
that  he  was  expected  to  speak  in  New  York  instead  of  Brooklyn,  he 
went  immediately  to  his  hotel  and  spent  the  entire  day  in  modifying 
and  changing  his  manuscript  thus  making  it  the  most  elaborate  speech 
of  his  life. 

AGITATED    POLITICIANS 

On  Sunday,  Mr.  Lincoln  attended  Mr.  Beecher^s  church,  and  after- 
wards expressed  himself  as  being  highly  pleased  with  the  sermon  and 
the  church  service  in  general. 

190 


THE  FAMOUS  EASTERN  TRIP,  191 

When  waited  upon  on  Monday  by  representative  members  of  the 
Republican  Club,  under  whose  auspices  he  was  to  appear,  he  surprised 
and  rather  mortified  the  elegant  and  prominent  citizens  of  the  great 
Eastern  metropolis,  for  they  found  him  attired  in  a  new,  cheap,  un- 
ifaehionable  and  badly  wrinkled  suit  of  black  clothes. 

The  Western  orator  seemed  to  this  committee  of  polished  gentlemen 
an  exceedingly  curious,  homely  man,  and  when  Mr.  Lincoln,  sensing 
their  criticisms,  talked  freely  of  his  unbecoming  and  common  attire, 
and  furthermore  expressed,  like  a  schoolboy,  his  delight  at  finding 
himself  in  a  large  city,  the  gentlemen  felt  great  misgivings  and  feared 
the  committee  had  made  a  grave  blunder  in  inviting  a  man  apparently 
so  uncultured  and  uncouth  to  speak  before  so  distinguished  an  assem- 
blage as  they  knew  would  gather  to  listen  to  one  who  it  was  reported 
had  so  ably  combated  the  little  giant  in  the  West. 

Mr.  Lincoln  had  prepared  no  copies  of  his  speech,  and  this  extreme 
ignorance  of  the  methods  of  Eastern  speakers,  and  his  remark  that  he 
doubted  very  much  whether  any  of  the  daily  papers  of  so  great  a  city 
would  care  to  publish  it  entire,  was  fresh  cause  for  alarm,  and  a  number 
of  the  members  were  agitated  and  fearful  of  the  outcome. 

LINCOLN'S    ESTIMATE    OF    WEALTH 

Being  at  leisure  all  that  day,  he  accepted  an  invitation  to  ride  about 
the  city.  Some  of  the  more  important  streets  were  passed  through,  and 
a  number  of  large  establishments  visited.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  delighted 
with  all  that  he  saw,  and  expressed  his  pleasure  in  plain  language, 
language  which  did  not  conceal  his  ignorance  of  city  affairs,  nor  cover 
up  the  fact  that  he  was  a  traveler  of  very  small  pretensionsu 

At  one  place  he  met  an  old  acquaintance  from  Illinois.  Mr.  Lincoln 
addressed  him  after  the  manner  of  Western  greeting  by  inquiring  how 
he  had  fared  since  leaving  the  West.  His  acquaintance  replied:  "I 
have  made  a  hundred  thousand  dollars  since  I  came  to  New  York,  but 
have  lost  it  all."  Then  questioning  Mr.  Lincoln,  he  said:  "How  is  it 
with  you?"  The  reply  was  characteristic  of  the  man,  but  its  sentiment 
surprised  and  amazed  a  wealthy  New  York  banker,  who  was  a  member 


192  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

of  the  committee  and  accompanied  Mr.  Lincoln  on  his  tour  of  inspection: 
"Oh,  very  well,"  said  Mr.  Lincoln;  "I  have  the  home  at  Springfield  and 
about  eight  thousand  dollars  in  money.  If  they  make  me  Vice-Presi- 
dent with  Seward,  as  some  say  they  will,  I  hope  I  shall  be  able  to 
increase  it  to  twenty  thousand,  and  that  is  as  much  as  any  man  ought 
to  want." 

In  a  photographer's  studio  on  Broadway,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  introduced 
to  Mr.  George  Bancroft,  the  historian.  The  contrast  which  he  presented 
to  this  cultured  and  polite  gentleman  was  certainly  not  to  his  advant- 
age, but  there  was  an  indefinable  natural  grace  and  kindness  of  heart, 
though  rather  brusk  of  manner  and  untutored  in  the  w^ays  of  the  polite 
world,  that  secured  the  respect  and  involuntary  good  will  of  all  who 
knew  or  ever  met  him. 

FEAR    OF    STAGE    FRIGHT 

Mr.  Lincoln  w^as  now  becoming  oppressed  with  the  unusual  scenes 
about  him.  The  studied  politeness  of  the  committee  annoyed  and  fretted 
him.  His  own  insignificance,  which  was  the  verdict  of  the  people  as  he 
then  supposed,  and  his  anxiety  over  his  important  work  for  the  evening, 
were  beginning  to  tell  upon  him.  Excusing  himself,  he  went  to  his  hotel 
and  gave  way  to  reflection  and  meditation. 

It  was  acknowledged  by  Mr.  Lincoln's  associates  that  he  afterward 
told  them  of  his  misgivings  and  almost  sheer  despair,  and  in  referring 
to  the  state  of  mind  he  was  in  at  that  time  he  said,  "I  suppose  I  was 
suffering  from  that  unpleasant  and  disagreeable  disease,  'stage 
fright.' " 

It  was  a  strange  fact  but  it  was  quite  true,  that  Mr.  Lincoln  was 
very  apt  to  be  oppressed  with  a  sense  of  his  own  insignificance,  and 
equally  as  true  that  while  he  had  exalted  aspirations  and  ambitions, 
and  was  ready  to  undertake  high  and  difficult  tasks,  yet  he  always 
bore  about  with  him  a  sense  of  his  imperfections  and  experienced  a  sort 
of  surprise  at  every  success.  Indeed,  his  triumphs  became  the  subjects 
of  his  study.  They  really  puzzled  him,  and  in  frequent  conversations 
with  others  he  betrayed  his  desire  to  find  the  secrets  of  his  own  newer. 


THE  FAMOUS  EASTERN   TRIP,  193 

THE    SECOND    FAMOUS    SPEECH 

The  evening  arrived,  and  when  Mr.  Lincoln  entered  the  hall  he  found 
the  room  filled;  there  had  arisen  a  great  and  widespread  curiosity  to 
see  him.  That  subtle  and  mysterious  means  of  communication  from 
mind  to  mind  had  sounded  the  tocsin  and  a  multitude  had  gathered. 

Mr.  Lincoln  had  not  entirely  recovered  from  his  depression  and 
anxiety,  and  when  he  mounted  the  platform  and  passed  to  the  front  the 
cynosure  of  all  those  elegant  men  and  accomplished  women  seated 
thereon  he  made  no  visible  sign,  but  his  fine  intuition  and  mental  alert- 
ness told  him  that  his  unusual  height,  his  gaunt  form,  his  awkward 
manner  and  his  ordinary  clothes  were  the  subjects  of  much  criticism. 

He  was  somewhat  relieved  of  his  embarrassment  and  annoyance  by 
the  graceful  manner  in  which  the  venerable  William  Cullen  Bryant 
introduced  him. 

Mr.  Lincoln  began  his  speech  in  a  low  and  somewhat  monotonous 
tone,  but  as  his  embarrassment  wore  off  and  also  discovering  that  his 
audience  were  giving  him  most  respectful  attention,  he  warmed  up  to 
his  subject  in  his  own  way,  and,  as  though  addressing  an  open-air  audi- 
ence, his  voice  took  on  the  familiar  tones  and  rose  loud  and  clear,  until 
every  one  in  the  vast  gathering  caught  every  word. 

His  speech  contained  words  of  profoundest  wisdom,  and  as  he  broke 
down  the  statements  of  falsehood  and  upset  illogical  reasoning,  the 
crowd  broke  into  "sudden  and  hearty"  applause,  not  so  boisterous  or 
demonstrative  as  the  applause  of  his  Western  audiences,  but  fully  as 
enthusiastic  and  genuine. 

THE    DYING    INJUNCTION    FULFILLED 

Here  the  backwoods  orator  found  one  of  his  most  appreciative  audi- 
ences, one  which  gave  abundant  testimony  that  it  was  listening  to  a 
masterly  effort. 

In  this  gathering  of  cultured  and  distinguished  citizens  of  New  York 
city  "Honest  Abe"  had  struck  a  responsive  note,  the  chord  of  harmony 
vibrated,  and  set  up  an  answering  sweetness  of  melody  that  returned 
to  the  great  soul,  in  the  future  years,  over  and  over  again. 


194  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

Nancy  Hanks  Lincoln's  boy  had  become  a  great  man.  Her  dying 
injunction  to  the  child,  "Be  kind  to  your  little  sister,  to  your  father  and 
grow  up  a  good  and  great  man,"  had  all  come  true.  This  was  a  moment 
of  triumph.  Why  should  not  the  mother  descend  from  the  shining  court 
and  bend  in  loving  tenderness  and  holy  benediction  over  her  obedient 
son? 

Mr.  Lincoln  had  finished  his  wonderful  speech,  so  wonderful  and 
so  full  of  facts  and  statements  concerning  unexplored  fields  that  the 
gentlemen  who  prepared  his  speech  for  an  after  campaign  document 
were  surprised  by  the  amount  of  research  that  it  required  to  be  able 
to  make  the  speech,  and  the  time  that  it  took  for  the  purpose  of  verifying 
the  statements  contained  in  the  address. 

THE    FIRST    CLUB    DINNER 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  meeting  Mr.  Lincoln  was  invited  to  supper 
by  some  of  the  most  distinguished  gentlemen  in  New  York.  The  party 
adjourned  to  the  Atheneum  Club,  and  among  these  friends  Mr.  Lincoln 
opened  his  heart  and  talked  like  a  boy.  He  had  been  successful  and  he 
knew  it.  He  was  full  of  humor,  and  entertained  the  company  with 
peculiar  jokes  and  quaint  stories  till  a  late  hour,  and  when  Mr.  Lincoln 
parted  with  his  new  friends  they  were  as  much  charmed  with  his  natural 
and  inborn  grace  of  character  as  they  had  been  instructed  by  his  won- 
derful speech. 

The  city  papers  were  filled  with  his  speech,  and  favorable  comments 
upon  it.  The  Western  rail-splitter  was  a  lion.  "Critics  read  the  speech 
and  marveled  at  its  pure  and  compact  English,  its  felicity  of  statement 
and  its  faultless  logic." 

The  boy  born  and  reared  in  a  cabin,  with  almost  absolutely  no 
advantages,  had  become  a  peer.  His  days  of  manual  labor,  hardships 
and  privations  were  over,  but  days  of  greater  suffering  and  toil  were 
before  him.  The  intellectual  giant  stood  before  the  world,  the  gentle 
and  tender  man  was  in  their  presence,  but  the  great  emancipator,  the 
struggling  gladiator  and  the  dying  martyr  appeared  in  the  hazy  dis- 
tance and  was  fast  approaching. 


THE  FAMOUS  EASTERN   TRIP,  195 

A    VISIT    TO    THE    MISSION    SUNDAY    SCHOOL 

Mr.  Lincoln  spent  several  days  in  New  York  city  viewing  the  won- 
ders, most  of  his  explorations  being  made  alone  and  unattended,  and 
he  was  thus  free  to  seek  what  interested  him  most. 

In  relating  afterwards  his  experience  to  a  personal  friend,  he  re- 
marked that  his  visit  to  the  Sunday  school  at  Five  Points  Mission 
was  exceedingly  interesting.  Mr.  Lincoln's  peculiar  and  unusual 
appearance  always  attracted  attention  wherever  he  went,  and  as  soon 
as  he  entered  the  Sunday  school  the  teachers  and  pupils  noticed  the 
stranger.  His  interest  in  the  boys,  who  had  been  gathered  from  the 
streets,  was  so  noticeable  that  the  superintendent  invited  him  to  speak 
to  the  children.  As  usual,  his  audience  was  so  greatly  pleased  that 
when  he  stopped  the  boys  insisted  that  he  tell  more  stories.  He  did  not 
announce  his  identity  until  he  was  leaving  the  building,  and  then,  in 
answer  to  the  superintendent's  inquiry  as  to  whom  the  boys  were  in- 
debted for  the  kind  and  pleasant  address,  he  merely  said,  "I  am 
Abraham  Lincoln  of  Illinois." 

Invitations  were  now  sent  to  Mr.  Lincoln  from  all  parts  of  the  New 
England  States,  and  he  always  spoke  to  immense  audiences. 

A    VISIT    TO    SON    ROBERT 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  heard  to  remark,  after  his  return  home,  that  his  trip 
had  been  exceedingly  pleasant  and  beneficial,  for  he  had  combined 
pleasure  and  duty. 

During  his  engagements  in  Massachusetts  he  had  taken  the  oppor- 
tunity of  visiting  his  son  Robert,  who  was  then  a  student  at  Harvard, 
and  here  Mr.  Lincoln  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  many  distinguished 
professors.  In  alluding  to  his  son's  standing  in  college,  he  said,  "If 
reports  are  true,  the  boy  already  knows  much  more  than  his  father." 

Mr.  Lincoln  had  alvv^ays  impressed  it  upon  his  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances that  they  should  give  to  their  children  all  the  educational  advant- 
ages that  were  possible,  for,  as  he  said,  "My  own  lack  of  schooling  has 
been  a  source  of  mortification  to  me  and  the  hard  labor  of  older  years 


196  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

to  secure  what  little  education  I  have,  I  would  not  impose  upon  a 
dumb  brute."  Carrying  into  his  home  life  the  same  advice  that  he  gave 
his  friends,  he  bestowed  upon  his  children  a  thorough  educational 
training. 

No  doubt  the  young  readers  of  this  book  will  be  interested  to  know 
that  the  young  Harvard  student,  Robert  Lincoln,  whom  Mr.  Lincoln 
referred  to  as  knowing  more  than  his  father,  is  now  a  prominent  and 
distinguished  attorney  in  the  city  of  Chicago. 


"A    MAN^S    A    MAN    FOR    A^    THAT" 

Mr.  Lincoln  returned  to  his  Western  home  exceedingly  gratified  by 
the  kindness  and  attention  that  had  been  extended  to  him  in  the  East, 
by  the  expressions  of  good  will  and  by  the  praise  and  adulation  be- 
stowed upon  him.  He  did  not  receive  all  this  extraordinary  approval 
and  commendation  with  a  spirit  of  pride  and  arrogance,  but  appeared 
more  full  of  humility  than  ever,  and  declared  that  he  was  quite  unworthy 
such  tribute. 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  still  a  simple-hearted,  ingenuous  man,  and  his  tri- 
umphs were  an  enigma  to  himself.  All  this  seemed  wonderful  to  Mr. 
Lincoln,  for  he  really  had  no  anticipation  of  such  extravagant  success 
among  the  learned  and  literary  men  of  the  Eastern  States.  He  had 
learned,  however,  that  the  people  of  the  United  States  judge  a  man  by 
the  same  unfailing  rule,  "What  he  is,  and  what  he  can  do.  Not  by  the 
clothes  that  he  wears,  nor  the  wealth  that  he  possesses,  nor  the  blood 
that  flows  in  his  veins." 


CHAPTER  XXVIIl. 

PRESIDENTIAL  NOMINATION 

ANOTHER  year  of  a  Presidential  campaign,  with  its  excitement 
and  election,  had  been  reached,  and  the  people  recognized  that 
the  issues  were  tremendous;  that  the  course  of  action  involved 
serious  thought,  that  the  leader  must  be  wise,  strong,  faithful,  brave, 
heroic  and  trustworthy. 

The  Eastern  world  advanced  its  claims  as  to  age  and  superiority, 
and  presented  its  strongest  and  ablest  candidates.  The  people  of 
the  Western  section  rent  the  air  with  cries  for  a  "man  of  the  people,'' 
and  presented  their  claims.  Vigor  and  strength  belonged  to  the  new 
country,  and  the  populace  clamored  for  its  honest  and  faithful  candi- 
date, a  son  of  the  soil  who  possessed  courage,  firmness  and  wisdom. 

A    KANGAROO    PARTY 

This  adulation  for  the  "uncouth  Westerner"  was  embarrassing  to 
the  political  leaders,  who  felt  that  it  would  be  suicide  to  put  up  such  a 
candidate,  and  yet  were  convinced  that  some  kind  of  political  honor 
would  be  demanded  for  this  man,  Abraham  Lincoln.  Accordingly,  a 
Cameron  and  Lincoln  club  was  organized  in  Chicago  and  a  committee 
appointed  to  wait  upon  Mr.  Lincoln  and  ask  him  to  run  on  the  Repub- 
lican ticket  as  Vice-President  with  the  Hon.  Simon  Cameron,  of  Penn- 
sylvania, as  the  Presidential  candidate. 

The  chairman  of  the  committee  found  Mr.  Lincoln  a  vastly  different 
man  than  he  had  expected  to  meet,  just  the  reverse  of  a  coarse,  unpol- 
ished, rude  backwoodsman.  A  quiet,  dignified  gentleman  received  him. 
Mr.  Lincoln  listened  to  the  gentleman  from  Chicago  with  perfect  com- 
posure and  unconcern,  and  to  the  surprise  of  the  gentleman  from  the 
Windy  City  Mr.  Lincoln  did  not  appear  to  feel  honored  by  the  compli- 
ment that  the  politician  flattered  himself  he  was  paying  him. 

The  committee  waited  in  surprised  silence  at  Mr.  Lincoln's  delayed 
reply.    The  great  man  meditated,  then  looking  directly  into  the  faces 

197 


198  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

of  the  committee,  displayed  in  his  brief  reply  the  shrewdness  of  the 
most  astute  and  diplomatic  politician  by  saying:  "Gentlemen,  wouldn't 
that  be  a  sort  of  kangaroo  ticket^  with  the  heiaviest  part  on  the  tail 
end?"  The  distinguished  gentlemen  from  Chicago  quietly  withdrew, 
"sadder  but  wiser  men." 

Shortly  after  this  the  movement  towards  making  Mr.  Lincoln  the 
Republican  candidate  for  the  Presidency  took  form.  Many  "wise 
heads"  looked  unutterable  things,  but  the  enthusiasm  and  love  of  the 
common  people  created  a  sentiment  that  could  not  be  overlooked. 

THE    RAILSPLITTER 

The  State  Republican  Convention  was  held  at  Decatur,  111,,  on  the 
10th  of  May,  1860,  and  though  Mr.  Lincoln  was  present  only  as  a  spec- 
tator, yet  when  he  entered  the  hall  he  was  greeted  with  such  enthusi- 
asm as  few  men  are  favored  with.  He  had  hardly  taken  his  seat  when 
it  was  announced  "that  an  old  Democrat  from  Macon  desired  to  make 
the  convention  a  present."  The  offer  was  accepted,  and  two  old  rails 
were  borne  into  the  convention,  gaily  decorated  and  bearing  the  inscrip- 
tion, "Abraham  Lincoln,  the  rail-splitter,  candidate  for  the  Presidency 
in  1860." 

The  effect  upon  the  audience  was  instantaneous,  and  prolonged 
cheers  made  the  very  roof  vibrate.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  called  upon  to  ex- 
plain the  matter  of  the  rails.  This  he  did,  telling  of  his  first  work  in 
Illinois,  which  was  felling  trees,  splitting  them  into  rails  and  fencing 
his  father's  little  farm.  Mr.  Lincoln  said :  "I  have  no  doubt  but  that 
splitting  rails  is  a  commendable  and  necessary  occupation,  but  still  I 
cannot  see  how  rail-splitting  is  in  any  way  allied  to  the  duties  of  the 
Presidency." 

The  West  clamored  for  the  national  convention,  and  the  East  sup- 
posed that  there  was  no  other  place  on  the  continent  than  the  territory 
lying  between  the  Atlantic  ocean  and  the  Alleghanies. 

The  shuffle  was  lively  and  interesting.  Were  there  ever  such  claims 
presented?  Now  one  district  was  considered  for  its  accommodations 
and  conveniences,  now  the  other  for  its  access  and  freedom,  and  so  the 
shuttle  flew  back  and  forth  until,  weary  of  its  struggles,  it  stopped  and 


PRESIDENTIAL  NOMINATION,  199 

rested  upon  the  destined  place.  The  inter-ocean  city  had  harbored  the 
toiler;  the  chosen  place  of  convention  passed  into  history,  and  Chicago 
took  on  a  new  and  more  important  attire. 

CHICAGO    AND    THE    WIGWAM 

The  city,  young  and  ambitious,  lay  along  the  western  shore  of  Lake 
Michigan.  It  felt  its  honors  and  w^as  in  gala  day  attire;  every  house 
and  building  was  decorated  with  bunting  and  flags.  The  delicious 
breezes,  laden  with  the  aroma  of  wild  flowers,  and  filled  with  the 
strength  and  energy  of  freedom  and  space,  came  rushing  along  over  the 
Western  prairies  and  caught  the  nation's  insignia,  swirling  and  whirl- 
ing and  tossing  it  till  the  air  was  a  sea  of  colored  harmony.  Red,  white 
and  blue  flaunted  their  brilliant  colors  against  the  somber  gray  of  the 
buildings,  and  mingled  with  the  pale  green  and  sapphire  tints  of  the 
great  lake,  stretching  out  against  the  distant  horizon. 

The  railroad  trains  were  constantly  discharging  their  loads  of 
human  freight  and  the  city  was  filled  with  eager  spectators.  Many  were 
in  some  way  connected  with  the  convention;  more  had  merely  come 
out  of  curiosity.  New  delegations  were  arriving,  banners  were  flying, 
and  bands  were  playing.  The  hotels  were  filled  with  distinguished  men 
and  the  streets  were  full  of  sightseers.  Women  and  children  were  out 
in  large  numbers,  and  they  made  a  gay  appearance  with  their  bright- 
colored  dresses  and  gay  decorations. 

THE    MOMENTOUS    OCCASION 

The  Republican  convention  assembled  at  Chicago  on  the  sixteenth 
day  of  June,  1860.  Everybody  knew  that  a  severe  political  storm  was 
ahead,  and  consequently  there  was  an  unusual  excitement  attending  the 
Presidential  nomination.  An  immense  crowd  had  gathered  in  Chicago, 
and  a  huge  building  called  "The  Wigwam"  had  been  erected  for  the 
sessions  of  the  convention.  From  the  first  it  became  evident  that  the 
contest  for  Presidential  honors  lay  between  the  Hon.  William  H.  Seward, 
of  New  York,  and  Abraham  Lincoln,  of  Illinois. 

The  morning  of  the  seventeenth  arrived,  and  the  air  was  full  of 
greater  and  more  intense  excitement  than  on  the  preceding  day.    The 


200  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

hotels  and  private  houses  were  crowded  to  suffocation,  and  "The  Wig- 
wam" was  taxed  to  its  uttermost.  The  streets  were  literally  jammed  with 
men  and  women  from  the  outlying  districts,  who  came  in  on  the  early 
"morning  trains  and  left  on  the  late  afternoon  trains — men  and  women 
who  represented  humble  homes,  evidently  "hewers  of  wood,  drawers  of 
water  and  tillers  of  the  soil."  These  were  the  populace,  and  the  people's 
choice  was  bravely  and  fearlessly  defended  by  the  faithful  champions. 
The  chiefs  of  the  Eastern  delegations  looked  on  with  contempt  and 
derision,  and  were  more  than  self-confident  that  a  candidate,  backed 
by  such  a  motley  crowd,  could  never  secure  the  vote  of  the  convention. 
The  sights  and  soundsi  of  the  streets  beggar  description,  so  says  an  eye- 
witness. 


"ABE    LINCOLN    IS    NOMINATED" 

The  proceedings  of  the  convention  were  carried  on  under  unusual 
excitement  and  interest,  and  when  the  final  ballot  was  announced  and 
the  people  realized  that  their  favorite  had  been  chosen,  for  a  moment 
a  deathlike  stillness  prevailed,  then  a  storm  of  wild  and  uncontrollable 
enthusiasm  rent  the  air.  The  news  was  communicated  to  the  guard 
stationed  on  the  roof,  who  sang  out  to  the  surging  crowds  in  the  streets 
below,  "Abe  Lincoln  is  nominated."  When  the  cheering  inside  the 
wigwam  died  away  the  roar  on  the  outside  began  again  and  the  enthu- 
siasm reached  such  a  tumult  of  excitement  that  the  thundering  salute 
of  the  cannon  was  unheard  by  many  in  the  convention  hall. 

The  entire  city  of  Chicago  was  wild  with  delight,  guns  were  fired 
and  decorated  and  illuminated  rails  were  carried  about  the  streets. 
The  news  spread  over  the  country  like  wild  fire.  Brazen  tongues  and 
iron  throats  added  their  praise  to  the  multitude  of  human  voices  that 
echoed  and  re-echoed  the  glad  tidings. 

THE    TELEGRAM    AND    WHAT    BECAME    OF    IT 

In  the  little  city  of  Springfield,  two  hundred  miles  away  from  the 
scene  of  the  boisterous  tumult  exhibited  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  sat  quietly  awaiting  the  news.     It  was  an  awful  moment 


PRESIDENTIAL  NOMINATION.  ,^01 

He  would  soon  be  the  commanding  figure  of  a  great  nation,  or  a  cast- 
off  politician,  with  his  hopes  and  ambitions  forever  blighted.  Sudden- 
ly, in  the  midst  of  a  silent  and  anxious  waiting,  the  telegraph  messenger 
entered  and  excitedly  announced  the  wonderful  news.  One  of  the  gen- 
tlemen present  who  had  been  keeping  Mr.  Lincoln  company,  jumped 
upon  a  table  and  shouted,  "Three  cheers  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  the  next 
President  of  the  United  States."  The  message  was  then  handed  to  Mr. 
Lincoln,  who  read  its  contents  silently,  then  aloud.  After  the  excite- 
ment had  in  a  measure  subsided  he  rose  from  his  sitting  posture,  pock- 
eted the  telegram,  calmly  remarked  that  there  was  a  "little  woman 
living  on  Eighth  street  who  had  some  interest  in  the  matter,''  and  im- 
mediately went  to  his  home. 

THE    RED-LETTER    DAY 

This  was  a  red-letter  day  for  Springfield,  the  citizens  thronged  his 
house  and  expressed  their  joy  in  enthusiastic  congratulations. 

On  the  following  day,  which  was  Saturday,  the  President  of  the  Ke- 
publican  convention,  at  the  head  of  a  committee,  visited  Springfield  to 
apprise  Mr.  Lincoln  officially  of  his  nomination.  His  friends  in  Spring- 
field had  presented  him  with  hampers  of  wines  and  liquors  in  order  that 
he  might  extend  to  the  committee  the  usually  expected  hospitality. 
This  matter  troubled  Mr.  Lincoln  sorely,  but  true  to  his  convictions  of 
right  and  wrong  he  returned  the  gift,  and  made  ready  for  the  reception 
according  to  his  own  ideas  of  hospitality.  If  the  gentlemen  wondered 
at  the  total  absence  of  stimulants  no  one  heard  any  remarks  concern- 
ing this  unusual  proceeding. 

The  chairman  of  the  committee  presented  to  Mr.  Lincoln  the  official 
announcement  of  his  nomination.  Mr.  Lincoln's  reply  to  the  chair- 
man of  the  committee  was  saturated  with  a  sad  gravity.  There  was 
no  pride  in  his  manner,  no  exultation  in  his  speech.  The  pressure  of 
a  new  and  great  responsibility  weighted  his  spirits  and  was  clearly 
noticeable  in  his  reply  to  the  gentleman  who  had  announced  his  nomina- 
tion. 


202  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

ACCEPTING    THE    NOIVIINATION 

On  the  twenty-third  day  of  June  Mr.  Lincoln  penned  his  letter  of 
formal  acceptance  and  sent  it  to  the  committee. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  now  placed  before  the  nation  a  candidate  for 
the  highest  honor  that  it  is  possible  to  bestow  upon  man. 

Born  in  the  humblest  of  dwellings,  of  obscure  parentage,  and  living 
for  fully  thirty  years  in  an  environment  of  severe  and  homely  conditions, 
he  had  raised  himself  by  his  own  exertion  and  force  of  manly  charac- 
ter into  national  recognition.  A  popular  and  unique  personage,  he  com- 
manded the  affectionate  solicitude  and  curious  interest  of  thirty  mil- 
lions of  people  in  his  own  country  and  a  host  of  nations  throiighout 
the  civilized  world. 


CHAPTER   XXIX. 

THE    CAMPAIGN 

ANEW  and  entirely  unknown  life  was  now  begun,  and  could  not 
be  stayed.  Its  import  and  greatness  oppressed  Mr,  Lincoln,  not 
because  he  feared  to  stem  the  criticism  of  his  new  associates  in 
regard  to  his  manners  and  habits;  not  because  he  dreaded  the  cere- 
monies and  fashionable  life  at  the  capital ;  not  because  he  feared  defeat, 
but  because  he  had  measured  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  tortuous 
and  dangerous  way  that  lay  before  him  if  he  should  be  the  people's 
choice. 

The  summer  and  fall  months  of  this  eventful  year  rolled  by.  The 
campaign  had  no  parallel — the  enthusiasm  of  the  people  was  like  a 
great  conflagration,  like  a  prairie  fire  before  a  tornado ;  it  was  a  crusade 
against  oppression.,  In  every  city  in  the  Northland  wigwams  were 
built,  eloquent  addresses  were  delivered  by  the  great  men  of  the  land. 
Every  hamlet  and  every  burg  had  their  rousing  stump  speeches  from 
ambitious  and  loyal  aspirants,  wide-awake  processions  were  formed, 
and  men,  women,  boys  and  girls  turned  out  and  joined  the  noisy  and 
enthusiastic  processions. 

It  was  universally  conceded  that  Mr.  Lincoln  would  be  elected 
and  he  was  treated  as  one  already  having  the  reins  of  government  in 
his  hands,  yet  he  remained  the  same  kind-hearted  and  simple-minded 
man  as  heretofore;  in  fact,  he  was  more  humble  and  sympathetic  than 
ever.  He  extended  the  same  kind  and  helpful  consideration  to  all  and 
maintained  the  same  friendly  intercourse  with  those  who  had  shared 
his  poverty  and  obscurity.  He  took  pains  to  prove  to  them  that  no 
change  of  circumstances  could  make  him  cease  to  love  them  or  cause 
him  to  neglect  them.  None  of  his  old  heartiness  or  simplicity  left  him. 
The  old  and  the  new  friends  who  entered  his  home  expecting  to  find  him 
changed  or  conscious  of  the  great  honor  conferred  upon  him,  were  sur- 
prised to  find  him  the  same  honest,  affectionate,  true-hearted  and  gentle- 
minded  man  that  he  had  always  been. 

203 


204  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

TOO    MUOH    COMPANY 

The  Lincolns  did  not  engage  help,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  answered  the 
bell  and  accompanied  the  visitors  to  the  door  when  they  left.  As  the 
domestic  duties  increased,  and  Mrs.  Lincoln  could  not  attend  to  them 
all,  a  relative  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  was  sent  for,  and  the  young  woman  as- 
sisted in  the  household  duties.  As  one  family  they  worked  together  for 
several  weeks,  and  until  necessity  demanded  experienced  help. 

As  has  previously  been  said,  the  Lincoln  establishment  was  still, 
as  well  as  at  all  future  times,  run  upon  the  same  unpretentious  and 
simple  methods.  Mr.  Lincoln  continued  to  personally  attend  to  certain 
domestic  affairs,  and  Mrs.  Lincoln  did  not  hesitate  to  call  him  from 
the  parlor  and  away  from  distinguished  callers  whenever  she  saw  fit. 

To  the  "young  relative,''  who  had,  In  response  to  Uncle  Abe's  request, 
come  to  Springfield  to  assist  in  the  housework,  I  am  indebted  for  the 
following  humorous  and  homely  incident: 

Before  beginning  the  recital  of  the  story  proper.  Cousin  Sarah  told 
me  that  she  had  visited  her  distinguished  relative  a  few  years  previous, 
and  had  enjoyed  her  sojourn  exceedingly;  but  with  such  honors  con- 
ferred upon  Uncle  Abe  she  feared  that  she  might  find  him  changed; 
therefore  accepted  the  invitation  with  considerable  reluctance.  Her 
fear  was  unfounded  when  the  same  unostentatious  relative  greeted  her. 

It  seems  that  the  particular  time  to  which  Cousin  Sarah  referred 
was  an  occasion  when  Mr.  Lincoln  had  invited  an  unusual  number  of 
callers  to  stay  for  supper,  and  the  decided  increase  of  guests  taxed  the 
household  larder  beyond  its  capacity.  Mrs.  Lincoln  called  her  husband 
into  the  kitchen  and  made  the  fact  known  to  him. 

Without  saying  a  word,  Mr.  Lincoln  put  his  hat  on  and  went  to  the 
fiftore  for  an  additional  supply  of  food,  soon  returning  with  his  arms  full 
of  parcels. 

His  wife  undid  the  packages  and  was  quite  displeased  with  the  but- 
ter, which  she  declared  was  frowsy,  and  again  called  Mr.  Lincoln  out 
into  the  kitchen  and  told  him  to  change  the  butter  for  something  "fit 
to  eat." 


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THE  CAMPAIGN,  205 

DOES    THAT   SUIT    YOU,    MARY? 

To  quote  verbatim,  this  country  relative  said:  "Uncle  Abe  did  not 
say  a  word,  but  picked  up  the  butter,  pla,te  and  all,  and  seemed  to  throw 
it  out  the  door.  Then  he  put  on  his  hat  and  went  again  to  the  grocer. 
In  a  few  minutes  he  came  back  with  some  more  butter,  and  after  his 
wife  had  smelt  of  it,  he  said,  *How  does  that  suit  you,  Mary?^  She  was 
satisfied  with  this  lot  of  butter  and  told  him  that  it  was  all  right. 

"Cousin  Abe  then  looked  at  me  with  a  funny  smile  and  kinder  whis- 
pered, ^ Where  ignorance  is  bliss  'tis  folly  to  be  wise.' 

"I  didn't  have  a  chance  then  to  ask  Cousin  Abe  what  that  meant, 
but  the  next  day  I  said  to  him,  What  did  you  mean  when  you  said  that 
it  was  foolish  to  be  wise.'  He  laughed  fit  to  split,  and  told  me  that 
there  would  be  many  times  in  my  life  *When  knowledge  of  certain 
things  would  make  me  very  unhappy.' 

"I  never  quite  knew  what  it  was  all  about,  but  somehow  I  sort  of 
think  Uncle  Abe  fooled  his  wife." 

A    DIVIDED    HOUSE    CANNOT    STAND 

The  common,  everyday  incidents  in  Mr.  Lincoln's  home  life  would 
fill  many  a  chapter,  and  the  lessons  of  patience,  forbearance  and  loving 
thought  and  deed  would  benefit  the  neglectful  and  complaining  man 
of  to-day,  A  study  of  his  gentle  tenderness  and  forgiving  nature  would 
establish  harmony  and  joy  in  many  unhappy  households  by  leading 
men  to  an  appreciation  of  home  duties  and  an  effort  to  assist  in  the 
character  building  of  their  little  children. 

The  home  is  not  a  one-sided  establishment,  and  cannot  be  so  man- 
aged. As  Mr.  Lincoln  said  concerning  national  affairs,  "A  house  divided 
against  itself  cannot  stand."  The  saying  is  as  applicable  to  the 
family's  home  as  it  is  to  the  nation's  home.  The  training  and  care  of  the 
children  are  as  much  a  part  of  the  father's  duty  as  the  mother's,  and  so 
thought  Mr.  Lincoln.  His  boys  were  his  companions,  his  comrades  and 
his  friends  from  their  boyhood  till  his  death. 

It  is  a  mistaken  idea  that  the  future  career  of  a  child,  whether  good, 
bad  or  indifferent,  depends  altogether  upon  the  mother's  training  and 


206  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

influence.  Such  an  opinion  is  entirely  illogical,  and  is  so  proven  by  the 
child  himself,  who  demonstrates  sooner  or  later,  that  he  inherits  equally 
with  the  mother's,  the  father's  characteristics.  At  an  early  age  the  child 
accepts  its  father's  example  and  advice,  whether  good  or  bad,  and  not 
always  outspoken,  however,  but  an  actual  demonstration,  which  is  a 
more  powerful  object  lesson  than  ten  thousand  audible  words. 

ABRAHAM    LINCOLN    LOVED    CHILDREN 

Mr.  Lincoln's  affection  for  and  devotion  to  the  little  people  was  not 
entirely  confined  to  his  own  children,  but  embraced  all  little  ones  alike. 
Children  understood  his  real  nature,  and  a  strange  baby  would  yield 
to  his  caresses  as  readily  as  to  those  of  its  own  mother,  while  many  chil- 
dren were  heard  to  say,  "Why,  Uncle  Abe  isn't  a  homely  man!"  The 
mother  of  a  little  girl  who  lived  in  Springfield  related  to  me  the  follow- 
ing simple  but  tender  little  incident: 

In  going  to  the  store,  on  an  errand,  the  lady's  little  daughter  met 
Mr.  Lincoln.  He  took  the  child  up  in  his  arms,  kissed  her  curly  head, 
gave  her  some  pennies,  and  said  to  her,  "Poor  little  girl."  Upon  re- 
turning home  little  Fanny  asked  her  mother  why  Mr.  Lincoln  had 
called  her  a  poor  little  girl.  Not  comprehending  Mr.  Lincoln's  reason, 
the  mother  so  told  the  child,  who  crept  into  her  lap  and  asked  her  "Why 
she  had  called  Mr.  Lincoln  ugly?"  The  mother  replied,  "Because  I  think 
he  is  a  very  homely  man."  The  child  was  silent  for  a  moment,  then 
getting  down  from  her  mother's  lap,  said  in  a  very  decided  voice,  "Well, 
I  think  Mr.  Lincoln  is  a  very  handsome  man." 

Mr.  Lincoln  did  not  allow  his  new  life  and  its  increasing  demands 
to  interfere  with  his  children's  comfort  or  pleasure.  He  kept  up  the  old 
habits,  and  his  boys  were  permitted  to  go  about  with  him  as  hereto- 
fore— ^to  and  from  his  ofiQce,  and  in  fact,  whether  in  the  house  or  in  his 
office  or  elsewhere  in  the  town,  his  children  were  at  his  heels.  Some- 
times he  was  talking  and  laughing  merrily  with  them;  at  other  times 
he  was  striding  along  while  the  youngest  one  was  having  a  hard  time 
to  keep  pace  with  him.  So  intent  was  he  upon  his  thoughts  that  often- 
times the  children's  questions  were  unheeded   until   their   imperious 


THE  CAMPAIGN.  20r 

demands  brought  him  to  his  senses.  Then  the  heretofore  silent  and 
abstracted  man  would  in  many  pleasant  ways  make  amends  for  his 
forgetfulness  and  inattention. 

SUFFER    LITTLE    ONES    TO    COME    UNTO    ME 

Mr.  Lincoln  w^as  criticised  in  his  town  by  his  older  friends  for 
giving  so  much  time  and  attention  to  his  children.  It  was  also  said 
by  some  of  his  fellow-citizens  that  he  possessed  a  great  weakness  in 
not  being  able  to  correct  his  own  children,  and  also  in  his  avowed 
charity  for  other  children's  misdemeanors. 

Some  of  the  severe  critics  called  him  childish  and  dubbed  his 
familiarity  with  children  "schoolboy  pranks."  How  little  these  people 
understood  the  great  man's  tender  and  loving  nature  that  so  sweetly 
recognized  God's  greatest  boon  to  humanity — the  children.  They  are 
gifts  that  keep  men's  hearts  green,  they  are  the  pledges  of  God's 
beneficence,  they  are  the  instruments  which  turn  men  from  sin  and 
despair,  and  their  translation  is  the  means  that  lead  many  a  bitter 
and  desperate  man  to  the  truths  of  glorified  immortality. 

It  is  not  the  weak  man  that  loves  children  and  mourns  for  them, 
but  it  is  the  strong  and  loving  nature  that  yields  to  their  infantile 
prattle  and  delicious  caresses. 

When  the  children  were  chided  for  pressing  close  to  the  Master^ 
Jesus  rebuked  the  older  folks  and  said  to  them,  "Suffer  the  little  chil- 
dren to  come  unto  Me,  for  of  such  is  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven." 

MRS.    LINCOLN    AND    THE    BOYS 

Mrs.  Lincoln  and  the  young  members  of  the  family  entered  into  the 
excitement  of  company  and  the  anticipation  of  removal  to  the  White 
House,  but  Mr.  Lincoln  did  not  share  their  enthusiasm.  He  knew  what 
was  before  him. 

From  now  until  the  moment  of  his  death,  Abraham  Lincoln  had  not 
a  leisure  hour.  Friends  came  from  far  and  near  to  tender  congratu- 
lations upon  his  nomination  and  to  express  their  hope  of  his  election. 

The  certainty  of  his  election  was,  from  the  first,  a  foregone  con- 
clusion, the  conditions  that  were  then  existing  and  the  fear  of  serious 


208  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

trouble,  made  the  people  of  both  parties  in  the  North  turn  to  the  man 
whose  life  had  been  filled  only  with  deeds  of  kindness,  words  of  love, 
and  acts  of  honor  and  responsibility. 

The  universal  belief  in  his  election  gave  him  a  unique  position,  and 
no  other  Presidential  candidate  was  ever  before  beset  with  such  "place- 
seekers  or  lion-hunters."  The  sanctuary  of  the  home  was  invaded  at 
all  hours,  and  the  family  were  becoming  weary  with  the  incessant 
coming  and  going,  and  it  was  fast  becoming  apparent  that  extra  help 
must  be  secured,  therefore  a  colored  servant  was  engaged  to  wait  upon 
the  door.  The  faithful  domestic  was  a  great  addition  to  the  family,  and 
relieved  Mr.  Lincoln  from  his  excessive  labor.  But  the  cordial  man 
could  not  entirely  divest  himself  of  the  old  habits,  and  still  continued 
to  give  many  of  his  callers  his  personal  attention. 

The  summer  passed  and  the  throng  of  visitors  did  not  diminish. 
They  still  poured  in  from  distant  parts  of  the  State. 

Among  them  were  many  old  neighbors  and  acquaintances  of  former 
years.  To  these  poor  and  humble  people  Mr.  Lincoln  gave  particular 
attention,  and  he  did  not  fail  to  bring  out  every  incident  of  his  life 
with  which  any  of  them  were  associated,  thus  making  them  doubly 
happy. 

MORE    HONORS 

The  interruption  of  his  domestic  life  and  family  affairs  became  in- 
tolerable, and  it  was  decided  by  the  citizens  of  Springfield  that  Mr. 
Lincoln  should  hold  his  receptions  and  also  receive  all  visitors  at  the 
State  House.  Accordingly  the  executive  chamber  was  set  aside  for  this 
purpose. 

Here  he  met  strangers  and  friends  alike,  and  the  procession  of  daily 
visitors  kept  up  its  incessant  appearance  until  his  departure  for  Wash- 
ington. From  morning  until  night  he  was  busy,  either  satisfying  the 
curiosity  of  strangers,  giving  friendly  greeting  to  his  associates  or 
listening  to  the  claims  of  office  seekers.  Mr.  Lincoln  performed  these 
unpleasant  duties  with  conscientious  care  and  unwearying  patience. 

There  were  a  thousand  humorous  incidents  connected  with  this 
promiscuous  calling,  and  a  recital  of  them  would  fill  a  book.    There 


THE  CAMPAIGN,  209 

were  young  men  coming  to  see  him  in  order  to  compare  tlieir  height 
with  his.  There  were  old  women  coming  who  brought  up  days  long 
past,  and  trembled  lest  the  great  man  should  forget  that  he  had  par- 
taken of  frugal  meals  in  their  humble  homes;  there  were  young  girls 
wanting  his  autograph;  there  were  mothers  bringing  their  children 
to  be  named  by  the  distinguished  man;  there  were  men  coming  to 
talk  over  the  various  public  questions  that  had  now  taken  on  grave  con- 
ditions, and  so  the  days  went  by, — ^joy,  pleasure,  humor,  pathos,  and 
anxiety  intermingled. 

The  future  was  very  dark  and  portentous.  Events  were  beginning 
to  array  themselves  in  a  manner  that  boded  trouble,  and  Mr.  Lincoln 
realized  that  he  was  entering  upon  a  path  full  of  danger.  With  the 
added  cares  of  his  new  life,  the  anxieties  that  beset  him,  and  the  burden 
of  the  nation  already  upon  his  shoulders,  he  was  often  bowed  down 
with  deepest  despondency. 

WORK    TO    DO    FOR    THE    WIASTER 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  often  known  to  remark  to  intimate  friends  that 
he  believed  he  was  an  instrument  in  the  hands  of  God  for  the  accom- 
plishment of  a  great  purpose. 

It  was  a  fact  beyond  dispute  that  Abraham  Lincoln  had  many 
enemies,  not  only  in  the  ranks  of  the  opposing  party  but  enemies  in 
his  own  party;  enemies  at  a  distance  and  enemies  in  his  State;  enemies 
among  the  citizens  of  his  own  town;  enemies  among  his  old  associates, 
and  enemies  among  his  supposed  friends. 

Mr.  Lincoln  became  so  convinced  of  treachery  among  the  citizens  of 
his  own  town,  that  some  friends  secured  for  him  a  canvass  of  Springfield. 
•A  list  of  his  opponents  was  thus  furnished  him,  and  as  he  examined 
it,  leaf  by  leaf,  he  could  not  cover  up  his  feelings.  He  found  among 
them  the  names  of  nearly  all  the  ministers  of  Springfield,  and,  drawing 
a  Testament  from  his  pocket,  he  remarked  to  a  friend  standing  near, 
who  watched  his  examination  of  the  list  with  amused  interest,  "With 
this  book  in  their  hands,  in  the  light  of  which  human  bondage  cannot 
live  a  moment,  they  are  going  to  vote  against  me.    I  do  not  understand 


210  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

it  all."  Giving  way  to  another  burst  of  indignation,  he  fell  into  a  mood 
that  but  few  of  his  friends  ever  witnessed. 

In  a  manner  tiresome  and  tedious  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  the  months 
dragged  along.  In  the  meantime  his  political  opponents  had 
given  up  the  contest,  but  at  the  same  time  took  every  means  to  insult 
the  man.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  called  the  Illinois  ape,  a  clown,  and  a  boor, 
and  all  manner  of  false  representations  were  made  against  him.  But 
no  abuse  could  provoke  him  to  utter  a  word  in  self-vindication.  He 
held  his  tongue,  and  calmly  awaited  the  result.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  a  wise 
candidate. 

During  all  this  period  of  anxious  waiting,  Mr.  Lincoln  carried  a 
calm  exterior,  but  the  trend  of  affairs  gave  him  intense  anxiety,  and 
filled  every  leisure  hour  with  painful  thought.  He  saw  the  gathering 
storm,  and  felt  that  upon  him  it  would  expend  its  wildest  fury.  Yet 
he  had  no  censure  for  the  men  who  were  vilifying  him  and  leading  the 
nation  into  dishonor  and  destruction.  He  wrapped  them  in  the  mantle 
of  charity,  and  simply  called  them  mistaken  men. 


CHAPTER   XXX. 

JOURNEY  TO  THE  CAPITOL 

THE  sixth  of  November,  1860,  arrived  and  the  voice  of  the  people 
was  heard.  A  tremendously  wonderful  verdict  announced  a 
magnificent  triumph  for  Mr.  Lincoln, 

The  result  of  the  election  was  cause  for  great  rejoicing  at  the  North, 
and  the  people  were  fairly  mad  with  the  intoxication  of  success.  Fires 
burned  fiercely,  bells  clanged,  flags  waved  and  the  voice  of  rejoicing 
was  heard. 

Mr.  Lincoln  had  now  become  the  most  important  man  on  the  con- 
tinent. The  entire  nation  was  agape  with  curiosity  as  to  the  man's 
career  at  Washington.  His  enemies  predicted  that  a  buffoon  could  not 
grace  the  executive  mansion.  His  friends  were  anxious  that  he  commit 
no  grave  blunders  of  etiquette,  and  the  nations  across  the  ocean  smiled 
at  the  idea  of  a  rail-splitter  holding  the  reins  of  power  over  30,000,000 
people. 

None  of  this  anxiety  or  derision  troubled  him.  Though  he  had 
known  nothing  of  drawing-rooms  or  social  functions  in  his  youth,  he 
did  not  let  this  fact  alarm  him;  "though  his  hands  were  large,  they 
had  never  taken  bribes;"  though  his  feet  were  heavy,  they  had  been 
willing  and  trusty  messengers;  though  his  frame  was  huge  and  homely, 
yet  within  it  beat  a  heart  so  loyal  and  strong  and  true  that  it  had  never 
wronged  a  single  person.  If  he  could  not  win  admiration  for  his  per- 
sonal graces,  he  had  won  love — and  plenty  of  it — for  his  personal 
goodness. 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  now  the  lion  of  the  day,  and  wherever  he  went  he 
found  a  royal  welcome  awaiting  him.  Chicago  extended  a  magnificent 
greeting,  parties  and  receptions  everywhere  were  gwen  in  his  honor. 
Still  he  retained  his  modest  demeanor  and  greeted  everyone  in  the  old 
unaffected  and  cordial  manner. 

211 


212  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

PREPARING    FOR    THE    WHITE    HOUSE 

The  confusion  and  discomforts  attending  moving  were  about  him. 
Mrs.  Lincoln  and  the  boys  were  making  constant  demands  upon  his 
time  and  pocketbook.  Tailors  were  clothing  him  and  his  family 
in  fashionable  garments;  photographers  were  taking  his  pictures; 
reporters  were  interviewing  him;  politicians  were  selecting  his  cabinet, 
and  friends  in  general  were  giving  him  copious  advice. 

Through  it  all  Mr.  Lincoln  retained  his  usual  placid  manner,  and 
kept  his  own  counsel.  These  trivial  affairs  of  receptions  and  dress,  of 
picture-taking  and  cabinet  making  were  of  small  moment,  for  graver 
things  were  troubling  him. 

During  all  that  anxious  period  of  waiting,  from  the  time  of  his  elec- 
tion to  his  departure  from  his  modest  home  at  Springfield,  Mr.  Lincoln 
wore  a  calm  exterior,  though  portentous  events  were  transpiring  that 
gave  him  the  most  intense  uneasiness  and  filled  every  leisure  moment 
with  painful  apprehension. 

Silently  and  with  sad  forebodings  he  waited  in  Springfield  the 
opening  of  the  approaching  storm.  He  saw  it  coming.  Business  was 
depressed;  the  North  was  affrighted;  the  South  was  seething  with 
excitement,  and  Washington  itself  was  full  of  treason. 

THE    DEPARTURE    FROM    SPRINGFIELD 

On  the  eleventh  of  February,  1861,  Mr.  Lincoln  bade  adieu  to  all  that 
had  been  most  precious  to  him,  and  started  on  his  journey  to  the  capitol. 

There  is  no  doubt  but  that  he  dreaded  to  go,  for  already  hints 
of  assassination  had  reached  his  ears.  His  enemies  had  openly  bragged 
that  "Old  Abe"  should  never  be  inaugurated  as  President  of  the  United 
States.  He  did  not  fear  any  of  these  threats,  but  an  anxious  dread 
disturbed  the  sweet  serenity  of  his  soul,  for  he  knew  that  oppressive 
duties  awaited  him. 

The  morning  of  the  eventful  day  had  arrived,  and  although  the 
weather  was  exceedingly  unpleasant,  a  cold  and  drenching  rain  having 
set  in,  yet  a  large  concourse  of  curious  folks  gathered  at  the  depot  hours 
before  the  schedule  time  for  departure. 


JOURNEY  TO  THE  CAPITOL.  213 

The  President-elect  was  escorted  from  his  house  to  the  railroad  sta- 
tion bj  friends  and  neighbors  and  the  general  public.  From  the  rear 
platform  of  the  train  he  bade  the  large  gathering  an  affectionate  fare- 
well. The  following  brief  description  of  the  final  moments  preceding 
the  departure  of  the  special  train  by  an  eye  witness  are  here  recorded: 

"Mr.  Lincoln  having  slowly  and  with  almost  a  reluctant  and  halting 
gait  ascended  the  steps  of  the  car,  faced  about  and  gazed  oyer  the  sea 
of  upturned  faces.  For  fully  a  minute  he  remained  silent  before  utter- 
ing a  word,  then  with  a  manner  and  voice  that  betokened  extreme 
sadness  and  regret,  he  spoke  to  the  waiting  crowd."  The  exact  words 
were  not  remembered  by  the  lady  who  gave  me  the  interview,  but 
nearly  coincided  with  the  following  printed  remarks  taken  from  one 
of  the  many  histories  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  life,  and  are  as  follows: 

"'My  friends: — No  one — not  in  my  position — can  realize  the  sad- 
ness I  feel  at  this  parting.  To  this  people  I  owe  all  that  I  am.  Here 
I  have  lived  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century.  Here  my  children 
were  born,  and  here  one  of  them  lies  buried.  I  know  not  how  soon  I 
shall  see  you  again.  I  go  to  assume  a  task  more  difficult  than  that 
which  has  devolved  upon  any  other  man  since  the  days  of  Washington. 
He  never  would  have  succeeded  except  for  the  aid  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence, upon  which  he  at  all  times  relied.  I  feel  that  I  cannot  succeed 
without  the  same  Divine  blessings  which  sustained  him;  and  on  the 
same  Almighty  Being  I  place  my  reliance  for  supi>ort.  And  I  hope  you, 
my  friends,  will  all  pray  that  I  may  receive  that  Divine  assistance, 
without  which  I  cannot  succeed,  but  with  which  success  is  certain. 
Again,  I  bid  you  an  affectionate  farewell.'  " 

These  brief  and  rather  commonplace  remarks  were  tinged  with 
gratitude  to,  and  sweet  remembrance  for,  the  people  who  had  stood  by 
the  man  through  all  the  strange  and  weary  years  of  his  life;  with  a  rec- 
ognition of  great  responsibility  and  impending  danger,  and  with  suppli- 
cation for  higher  aid  and  guidance  than  human  wisdom  can  offer  or 
grant. 

The  cars  pulled  out  of  the  station  amid  the  loud  and  continued 
«heers  of  the  people,  who  fairly  kept  pace,  for  some  distance,  with  the 


214  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

moving  train.  The  distinguished  party  consisting  of  the  President, 
Mrs.  Lincoln,  the  three  sons,  Robert,  Willie  and  Tad,  and  a  number  of 
prominent  citizens,  among  them  Governor  Yates  of  Illinois,  Dr.  W.  M. 
Wallace,  Judge  David  Davis,  Colonel  E.  E.  Ellsworth,  and  Messrs.  John 
M.  Hay  and  J.  G.  Nicolay,  settled  themselves  comfortably,  each  after  his 
own  particular  fashion. 

The  two  younger  boys,  Willie  and  Tad,  were  wild  with  delight,  full 
of  boyish  pranks  and  bubbling  over  with  innumerable  questions,  which 
the  father  throughout  the  entire  journey  was  never  too  wearied  or  pre- 
occupied to  answer.  Tad  was  an  especial  favorite  with  all.  His  bright 
and  winning  ways  relieved  the  journey  of  much  of  its  weariness  and 
pressure. 

The  route  was  now  mapped  out  and  the  special  stops  designated 
and  the  various  ceremonies  arranged  and  discussed.  Mr.  Lincoln  was 
now  given  full  information  concerning  the  elaborate  programme  which 
had  been  so  planned,  with  the  understanding  that  the  President  should 
address  the  people  at  certain  stations  through  which  the  special  train 
passed  and  at  all  of  the  larger  cities  where  receptions  were  to  be  given 
and  the  parades  announced. 

Mr.  Lincoln  felt  that  the  most  difficult  task  of  his  life  was  now  before 
him  for  the  entire  Northland  was  hanging  upon  the  words  he  might 
speak  to  them  on  his  journey  to  the  National  Capitol.  Thousands  were 
waiting  to  criticise  him,  while  as  many  more  were  fearful  lest  he  should 
say  something  that  might  disappoint  his  friends  and  supporters,  that 
would  please  and  further  antagonize  his  enemies,  or  that  should  inflame 
the  South. 

Mr.  Lincoln  said  to  a  member  of  the  party:  *^I  feel  unequal  to  this 
task,  for  I  have  never  acquired  and  never  can  acquire  the  faculty  of 
uttering  graceful  nothings."  It  was  afterwards  related  that  one  of 
the  party  who  accompanied  Mr.  Lincoln  remarked  that  "the  man  who 
won  the  profound  admiration  of  the  gifted  and  learned  at  the  Cooper 
Institute,  when  on  the  platform  of  a  railroad  car  or  before  an  august 
committee  of  city  magnates,  was  as  much  at  a  loss  as  a  school  boy  would 
have  been." 


JOURNEY  TO  THE  CAPITOL.  215 

TRIUMPHAL    TRIP    TO    WASHINGTON 

The  ovation  that  Mr.  Lincoln  received  along  the  entire  route  waa 
extraordinary.  Expressions  of  good  will  abounded,  and  the  people 
pledged  the  President  their  faithful  support 

On,  on  sped  the  train  bearing  the  Presidential  party,  passing  slow- 
ly through  the  smaller  towns  and  villages,  but  stopping  only  at  the 
large  cities — Cleveland,  Cincinnati,  Buffalo,  Albany,  New  York  and 
Philadelphia. 

Indianapolis  was  the  first  stopping  place,  but  Mr.  Lincoln  was 
called  to  the  platform  at  several  places  en  route. 

On  arriving  at  Indianapolis  the  party  found  the  city  ready  and  in 
order.  Business  was  suspended,  flags  were  floating  everywhere,  and 
when,  at  five  o'clock,  the  train  rolled  into  the  station,  a  salute  of 
thirty-four  guns  announced  the  arrival  of  the  distinguished  party.  The 
Governor  of  Indiana  gave  the  address  of  welcome,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  and 
his  friends  were  escorted  through  the  principal  streets  by  a  procession 
composed  of  both  Houses  of  the  Legislature,  the  municipal  authorities 
and  the  firemen.  Upon  arriving  at  the  principal  hotel,  Mr.  Lincoln 
addressed  the  assembled  crowd  from  the  balcony. 

On  the  following  day  the  Presidential  party  left  for  Cincinnati.  An 
immense  concourse  of  people  gathered  at  the  depot,  and  as  the  train 
moved  the  crowd  cheered  lustily. 

The  special  train  passed  en  route  the  burial  place  of  General  Harri- 
son, who  had  occupied  the  Presidential  chair,  and  here  the  family  of 
the  dead  patriot  was  assembled.  Mr.  Lincoln  bowed  his  respects  to  the 
group  and  to  the  memory  of  his  predecessor. 

SPEEOH    AT    CINOINNATI 

The  specially  decorated  train  steamed  into  Cincinnati  on  the  after- 
noon of  the  twelfth.  The  crowd  at  the  depot  was  immense,  a  distant 
cannon  announced  the  approach  of  the  train,  and  then  there  went  up 
from  the  people  such  a  cheer  as  only  an  enthusiastic  multitude  can  give. 
"Honest  Abe^'  was  in  their  midst,  and  the  people  clamored  for  a  sight 


216  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

of  him.  It  was  with  great  difficulty  that  the  police  forced  a  passage 
through  the  surging  crowd. 

Six  white  horses  drew  the  carriage  in  which  Mr.  Lincoln  sat.  He 
was  surrounded  by  a  detachment  of  police,  who  were  constantly  busy 
trying  to  keep  the  people  from  actually  climbing  into  the  carriage.  As 
it  was,  one  stout  German  broke  the  ranks,  and,  taking  up  a  little  girl 
in  his  arms,  succeeded  in  holding  her  so  near  to  Mr.  Lincoln  that  he 
was  able  to  take  the  flower  from  the  little  child's  hand.  The  thoughtful 
man  acknowledged  the  child's  pretty  act  by  stooping  and  kissing  her. 

The  hotel  was  reached  and  Mr.  Lincoln  appeared  upon  the  balcony 
and  addressed  the  people.  His  speech  Y\^as  received  with  warm  applause. 
The  crowd  called  for  an  expression  touching  his  public  policy,  but  Mr. 
Lincoln  begged  to  be  excused  from  such  expression,  and  said,  "I  deem 
it  due  to  myself  and  the  whole  country,  in  the  present  extraordinary 
condition  of  the  country  and  of  public  opinion,  that  I  should  wait  and 
see  the  last  development  of  public  opinion.  I  shall  give  my  views  at 
the  time  of  my  inauguration,  and  I  hope  at  that  time  to  be  false  to  noth- 
ing you  have  been  taught  to  expect  of  me." 

SPEECH  AT  COLUMBUS 

The  morning  of  the  thirteenth  the  party  started  for  Columbus,  the 
capital  of  the  State.  The  scenes  of  the  previous  day  were  repeated  all 
along  the  route.  As  the  train  approached  the  station,  the  crowd  be- 
came almost  unmanageable,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  was  obliged  to  appear  in 
order  to  appease  the  people.  On  alighting  and  entering  a  carriage,  the 
scenes  at  Cincinnati  were  re-enacted. 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  received  in  the  hall  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
and  the  Governor  introduced  him  to  the  Legislature.  The  President 
of  the  Senate  gave  the  welcoming  address,  and  Mr.  Lincoln's  response 
was  exceedingly  agreeable.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  formalities,  Mr. 
Lincoln  went  to  the  western  steps  of  the  capitol  to  say  a  word  to  the 
people.  It  is  said  by  an  eye-witness  that  the  hand-shaking  was  really 
fearful.  The  man  who  always  made  himself  master  of  every  circum- 
stance took  in  the  situation,  and  with  a  cordial  and  enthusiastic  man- 


JOURNEY  TO  THE  CAPITOL,  317 

ner  extended  both  hands  and  allowed  the  crowd  to  seize  them  at  their 

will. 

Mr.  Lincoln  at  last  escaped,  and  took  refuge  in  the  Governor's 
residence.  Although  he  was  greatly  fatigued  he  held  a  levee  at  the 
State  House  in  the  evening,  where  he  met  the  citizens  of  Columbus  in 
a  more  quiet  way. 

RAIN    BROUGHT    DISAPPOINTMENT 

On  the  morning  of  the  fourteenth  the  Presidential  party  left  Colum- 
bus for  Pittsburg.  The  train  did  not  arrive  in  the  latter  town  until 
quite  late  in  the  evening,  and  a  drizzling  rain  had  set  in  that  greatly 
interfered  with  the  preparations. 

At  the  hotel  Mr.  Lincoln  addressed  the  assembled  people,  but  his 
more  formal  remarks  were  deferred  until  the  next  morning. 

The  rain  continued  all  night,  and  when  morning  came  had  not 
abated.  The  unpleasant  condition  of  the  weather  interfered  with  the 
ceremonies,  and  the  programme  was  considerably  curtailed. 

The  most  noticeable  remark  of  his  address  here  was  his  advice  to  the 
people  in  regard  to  the  anticipated  trouble.  He  said,  "My  advice  is 
to  keep  cool,  and  if  the  great  American  people  will  only  keep  their 
temper  on  both  sides  of  the  line,  the  trouble  will  come  to  an  end,  and 
the  question  which  now  distracts  the  country  will  be  settled  just  as 
surely  as  all  other  difficulties  of  like  character  which  have  originated 
in  this  Government  have  been  adjusted." 

RECEPTION    AT    CLEVELAND 

The  next  place  to  be  visited  was  Cleveland,  and  the  party  set  out 
for  the  beautiful  city  in  a  hard  shower  of  rain.  There  were  the  usual 
incidents  along  the  road,  and  at  foar  o'clock  the  train  arrived  at  the 
station,  where  a  large  escort  waited  to  conduct  Mr.  Lincoln  to  his  hotel. 
Notwithstanding  the  unpleasant  weather,  the  streets  were  crowded, 
and  the  enthusiasm  was  as  great  here  as  elsewhere. 

Early  the  next  morning  the  party  took  leave,  but  already  many  had 
assembled  at  the  depot,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  departed  from  Cleveland  amid 
the  cheers  of  the  crowd  and  the  flutter  of  waving  handkerchiefs. 


318  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

SPEECH    AT    BUFFALO 

The  next  public  reception  was  at  Buffalo,  where  the  party  arrived 
late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  sixteenth.  On  the  arrival  of  the  train  at 
the  station,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  met  by  a  large  concourse  of  citizens,  with 
Ex-President  Fillmore  at  their  head.  After  being  conducted  to  his  hotel, 
the  formal  welcome  was  made,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  responded  with  hearty 
thanks. 

From  Buffalo  to  Albany  was  a  long  stretch,  but  all  along  the  route 
the  train  passed  through  enthusiastic  crowds,  thankful  to  catch  even  a 
passing  glimpse  of  Uncle  Abe. 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  now  very  tired,  as  were  also  the  members  of  his 
family  and  the  accompanying  party.  This  respite  from  formalities  and 
actual  contact  with  crowds  was  a  genuine  relief  and  all  were  grateful  for 
this  brief  but  much-needed  rest.  Even  the  young  boys  were  tired  of 
the  repeated  scenes,  and  remarked  that  they  "didn't  see  why  the  people 
should  make  such  a  fuss  over  their  father,  for  he  seemed  to  be  just  the 
same  as  he  ever  was." 

SPEECH    AT    ALBANY 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  met  at  Albany  by  a  delegation  headed  by  the 
Governor  of  the  Empire  State,  and  here  again  he  was  conducted  into 
the  presence  of  the  Legislature,  where  he  had  another  formal  reception. 

In  response  to  the  welcoming  address,  Mr.  Lincoln  said,  among 
other  equally  characteristic  phrases,  "It  is  true  that,  while  I  hold 
myself,  without  mock  modesty,  the  humblest  of  all  the  individuals  who 
have  ever  been  elected  President  of  the  United  States,  I  yet  have  a 
more  difficult  task  to  perform  than  any  one  of  them  has  ever  encoun- 
tered. When  the  time  comes,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  Govern- 
ment, I  shall  speak,  and  speak  as  well  as  I  am  able,  for  the  good  of  the 
North  and  of  the  Souths — for  the  good  of  the  one  and  of  the  other,  and  of 
all  sections  of  it.  In  the  meantime,  if  we  have  patience,  if  we  main- 
tain our  equanimity,  I  still  have  confidence  that  the  Almighty  Euler 
of  the  universe,  through  the  instrumentality  of  this  great  and  intelligent 


JOURNEY  TO  THE  CAPITOL.  219 

people,  can  and  will  bring  us  through  this  difficulty,  as  He  has  here- 
tofore brought  us  through  all  preceding  difficulties  of  the  country." 

GREETINGS    AT    NEW    YORK    CITY 

On  the  nineteenth  the  party  left  Albany  for  New  York  city,  and  again 
Mr.  Lincoln  was  in  the  great  metropolis, — not  as  before,  the  mark  of 
criticism, — but  now  as  a  chieftain,  while  the  prominent  citizens  of  the 
proud  city  paid  him  homage  and  tendered  him  a  mighty  welcome. 

Places  of  business  were  generally  closed,  and  the  streets  presented 
such  an  appearance  as  only  the  streets  of  New  York  city  can  present. 
The  Mayor  received  the  Presidential  party  and  made  the  address  of 
welcome. 

Here,  again,  this  man,  a  son  of  poor  and  humble  parents,  was  the 
cynosure  of  a  great  concourse.  His  homely  figure  and  awkward  gait 
were  overlooked,  his  ignorance  of  polite  society  was  ignored,  and  his 
poverty  and  obscure  origin  were  forgotten;  only  his  loving  words,  his 
tender  deeds  and  his  strong  personality  were  remembered.  The  nation 
was  looking  to  this  humble  and  common  man  for  advice,  for  support 
and  for  protection  in  her  hour  of  coming  sorrow. 

Again  his  angel  mother  bent  over  him,  and  the  words  of  the  dying 
woman  were  repeated,  while  no  one  heard  them  save  the  man  who  was 
looking  towards  his  long  journey  that  leadeth  into  pleasant  paths. 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  beginning  to  realize  that  the  least  said  about  his 
policy  the  better,  and  therefore  he  confined  himself  almost  exclusively 
to  the  impulse  of  the  moment  in  his  public  utterances. 

In  his  remarks  at  New  York,  in  response  to  the  address  of  welcome, 
Mr.  Lincoln  overlooked  every  allusion  to  his  policy  and  contented  him- 
self with  declaring  his  faithfulness  to  his  country.  He  said,  "In  my 
devotion  to  the  Union,  I  hope  I  am  behind  no  man  in  the  nation.  In 
the  wisdom  with  which  to  conduct  the  affairs  tending  to  the  preser- 
vation of  the  Union,  I  fear  that  too  great  confidence  may  have  been 
reposed  in  me;  but  I  am  sure  that  I  bring  a  heart  devoted  to  the 
work." 


320  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

END    OF    TRIUIYIPHAL    JOURNEY 

On  the  twentieth  Mr.  Lincoln  left  New  York  for  Philadelphia,  step- 
ping at  some  of  the  intermediate  places.  Upon  his  arrival  at  the  City 
of  Brotherly  Love,  he  was  received  with  great  enthusiasm  and  many 
demonstrations  of  popular  regard. 

Here  ended  the  triumphal  procession.  A  private  detective  at  that 
point  furnished  Mr.  Lincoln  and  his  friends  with  such  irrefutable  evi- 
dence of  a  premeditated  assault  upon  the  incoming  President  that  both 
Mr.  Lincoln  and  the  gentlemen  of  his  party  were  convinced  that  a 
cowardly  attack  was  contemplated.  It  was  believed  that  violence 
would  be  committed  upon  Mr.  Lincoln  as  the  Presidential  train  passed 
through  Baltimore.  After  consultation  between  the  detectives  and  his 
escort  it  was  arranged  to  have  Mr.  Lincoln  abandon  the  special  train 
and  proceed  to  Washington  upon  the  regular  express,  but  not  until, 
however,  Mr.  Lincoln  had  met  certain  obligations  that  he  had  assumed 
for  that  day. 

To  the  gentlemen  who  tried  to  persuade  Mr.  Lincoln  to  cancel  the 
day's  programme  he  said :  "I  have  promised  to  raise  the  American  flag 
on  Independence  Hall  on  the  morning  of  the  22d  of  February,  Washing- 
ton's Birthday,  and  have  accepted  an  invitation  to  a  reception  by  the 
Pennsylvania  Legislature  for  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day.  Both  of 
these  engagements  I  will  keep,"  said  Mr.  Lincoln,  "if  it  costs  me  my 
life;  for  the  rest  of  my  journey  you  may  make  such  arrangements  as 
you  think  best  to  insure  my  safe  arrival  in  Washington.'' 

The  ceremonies  at  Philadelphia  were  very  significant  and  brought 
together  a  great  concourse  of  people.  The  Western  giant  stood  within 
the  room  where  the  Declaration  was  framed  and  signed,  and  pledged 
himself  anew  to  its  principles.  Then  in  the  presence  of  the  great 
throng  he  ran  up  the  glorious  Stars  and  Stripes,  the  nation's  symbol  of 
freedom  and  liberty.  Old  Glory  proudly  floated  and  the  people  rent  the 
air  with  prolonged  cheers. 

THE  SECRET  ARRIVAL  AT  THE  CAPITAL 

At  the   conclusion    of   the    ceremonies    at    Harrisburg,  the   cap- 


JOURNEY  TO  THE  CAPITOL,  mi 

ital  of  the  State,  Mr.  Lincoln  retired  to  his  rooms  at  the 
hotel  to  remain  over  the  night,  as  the  people  supposed,  and 
then  to  leave  for  Washington  on  the  morning  of  the  next  day.  A  dif- 
ferent arrangement,  however,  had  been  planned,  and  at  six  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  he  passed  unobserved  from 
his  hotel  to  a  carriage  and  was  driven  rapidly  to  the  railroad  station, 
where  a  special  train  was  awaiting  him.  The  moment  the  train  left 
the  depot  the  telegraph  wires  were  cut.  Upon  the  arrival  of  the  party 
in  Philadelphia  the  regular  train  was  boarded,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  and  his 
escort  retired  to  their  sleeping  berths.  Passing  directly  through  Balti- 
more the  distinguished  party  reached  Washington  without  change  of 
cars,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  and  his  escort  arrived  at  the  capitol  city  unan- 
nounced at  six  o'clock  the  next  morning.  Mr,  Lincoln  went  directly 
to  the  Willard  Hotel,  and  a  few  minutes  later  was  talking  over  his 
adventure  with  the  Hon.  Mr.  Seward,  the  future  Secretary  of  State. 

It  was  indeed  a  shameful  fact  that  Abraham  Lincoln,  a  man  who 
was  destined  "to  lay  anew  the  cornerstone  of  the  Republic;  baptize  it 
with  his  own  blood  and  then  leave  it  to  the  nation  as  a  perpetual  me- 
morial," who  declared  "that  the  government  of  the  people,  by  the  people 
and  for  the  people  shall  not  perish  from  off  the  earth,"  should  be  obliged 
to  enter  the  capital  of  the  United  States  like  an  escaped  fugitive  from 
justice. 

The  City  of  Washington  was  thrown  into  a  flutter  of  excitement  by 
this  unexpected  arrival.  Mr.  Lincoln's  foes  ridiculed  the  idea  of  as- 
sassination and  his  friends  were  angry  that  he  had  consented  to  "sneak" 
into  the  city,  but  the  sequel  conclusively  shows  whether  the  fears  of 
those  who  advised  Mr.  Lincoln  to  take  the  precaution  of  secret  and  un- 
expected transportation  were  groundless  or  not. 

Mr.  Lincoln  immediately  proceeded  to  make  himself  at  home  in 
the  city.  He  conversed  freely  with  his  friends  and  gave  himself  up  to 
the  pleasures  of  the  occasion.  He  called  at  the  capitol,  and  visited  both 
Houses  of  Congress,  and  on  his  way  back  to  the  hotel  went  into  several 
other  public  buildings. 


223  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

RETURNING    GOOD    FOR    EVIL 

On  the  twenty-seventh  the  Mayor  and  the  municipal  authorities 
gave  him  the  formal  welcome  of  the  city.  Mr.  Lincoln's  reply  was 
brief,  but  he  took  this  occasion  to  say  to  the  Mayor  and  the  other 
gentlemen  present,  that  he  should  treat  them  with  the  same  consider- 
ation that  he  had  always  shown  his  neighbors,  and  confidently  believed 
that  the  better  they  became  acquainted  the  more  they  would  like  each 
other. 

Here  was  the  supposed  buffoon,  of  the  Western  wilds,  assuring  the 
elegant  gentlemen  that  they  would  be  treated  with  consideration  and 
respect.  The  very  first  circumstance  in  Mr.  Lincoln's  new  life  was 
colored  with  his  natural  thoughts.  He  was  not  thinking  of  how  other 
people  should  treat  him,  but  how  he  should  treat  other  people.  He  was 
always  in  his  own  mind  a  giver  and  not  a  receiver. 

On  the  second  evening  after  his  arrival,  the  Kepublican  Association 
tendered  him  the  courtesy  of  a  serenade,  which  attracted  a  large  crowd 
of  friends  and  curious  spectators.  Mr.  Lincoln  appeared  upon  the 
balcony  of  the  hotel  and  made  a  few  pleasant  remarks. 

The  days  that  preceded  the  inauguration  were  rapidly  passing  away. 
In  the  meantime,  although  General  Scott  had  been  busy  in  making 
efi&cient  military  preparation  for  the  occasion,  many  were  fearful  lest 
scenes  of  violence  would  be  enacted  upon  that  day. 

It  was  a  fearful  time  Df  uncertainty.  The  leading  society  of  Wash- 
ington hated  Mr.  Lincoln  and  the  principles  he  represented.  There  was 
probably  not  one  man  in  five  in  the  capital  city  who,  in  his  heart,  gave 
Mr.  Lincoln  a  welcome. 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

THE   INAUGURATION 

THE  fourth  of  March  was  looked  forward  to  with  nervous  dread 
by  the  entire  North.  The  morning  of  that  day  was  beautifully 
clear  and  bright.  The  usual  ceremonies  attending  the  occasion 
were  observed,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  was  safe  within  the  capitol  building. 

There  was  a  great  desire  to  hear  Mr.  Lincoln's  inaugural  address. 
At  an  early  hour,  Pennsylvania  avenue  was  a  scene  of  unusual  activity, 
and  throngs  of  people  were  bending  their  steps  towards  the  capitol. 

The  incoming  President,  his  escort  and  the  carriages  containing  the 
participators  in  the  ceremonies  had  passed.  The  grounds  about  the 
capitol  building  were  a  mass  of  moving  human  beings;  flags  were 
flying,  bands  were  playing,  and  the  air  was  full  of  the  hum  and  stir  of 
excited  demonstration. 

Prominent  men  and  fashionable  women  were  seated  upon  the  plat- 
form; and  the  immense,  surging  crowds  were  standing  about  waiting 
to  see  the  new  President  and  his  escort  of  distinguished  gentlemen. 
Among  them  were  many  strangers  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  some  of  his  friends 
and  a  number  of  his  political  antagonists. 

TRUE    POLITENESS 

One  of  the  most  notable  and  significant  details  connected  with  the 
occasion  was  the  fact  that  the  Hon.  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  Mr.  Lincoln's 
old  antagonist,  stood  at  his  side  during  the  entire  reading  of  his  address 
and  politely  held  the  President's  hat. 

There  was  not  a  very  hearty  welcome  accorded  to  the  new  President 
as  he  passed  out  to  the  front  balcony  of  the  capitol  to  deliver  the  inaugu- 
ral address,  for  his  enemies  were  many  and  his  friends  were  too  wise  to 
exasperate  or  further  antagonize  by  a  too  fervent  demonstration. 

The  inaugural  address  was  given  the  closest  attention  by  all  who 
could  hear,  and  the  patriotic  allusions  to  the  Union  were  as  patriotically 
received,  the  people  in  the  standing  crowds  cheering  vociferously. 

223 


234  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

The  address  delivered  and  the  oath  administered,  the  august  cere- 
monies of  the  occasion  were  concluded.  Passing  back  through  the 
Senate  chamber,  the  President  was  escorted  to  the  White  House,  where 
Mr.  Buchanan,  the  ex-President,  took  leave  of  him,  and  where  the  people 
were  received  by  the  new  President  in  large  numbers. 

One  of  the  callers  asked  Mr.  Lincoln  if  he  was  frightened  while 
delivering  his  address,  in  consequence  of  the  threats  of  assassination. 
His  reply  was  as  characteristic  of  the  man  as  in  the  old  life.  He  told 
the  curious  inquirer  that  he  had  experienced  greater  fear  in  addressing 
a  dozen  western  men  on  the  subject  of  temperance. 

THE    NEW    HOME 

Abraham  Lincoln  and  his  family  fitted  into  the  White  House  as  if 
they  had  always  lived  there,  or  at  least  as  though  they  belonged  there. 
There  was  no  confusion  shown,  no  argument  made  and  no  authority 
exhibited  in  the  selection  of  the  different  apartments. 

Mr.  Lincoln  chose  for  his  office  and  informal  visits  a  room  whose  out- 
look particularly  pleased  him.  The  view  from  this  room  was  exceed- 
ingly beautiful,  a  well-kept  lawn  had  spread  its  velvet  carpet  down 
the  gentle  slope,  while  its  delightful  verdure  stretched  away  in  the  dis- 
tance and  the  eye  followed  the  broad  emerald  ribbon  till  it  rested  upon 
the  then  unfinished  Washington  Monument,  with  the  Smithsonian  In- 
stitute near  by.  The  beautiful  scene  continued  and  increased  as  the 
historical  Potomac  revealed  itself,  with  Alexandria  in  the  distance  and 
dear  Mount  Vernon  further  on.  Just  across  the  Potomac  were  Arling- 
ton Heights  and  Arlington  House,  the  ancestral  home  of  General  Robert 
E.  Lee. 

OLD    GLORY 

The  beautiful  hills  about  on  which  the  President  delighted  to  look 
were  in  a  short  space  of  time  dotted  with  the  encampments  that  sur- 
rounded Washington.  The  green  of  the  forest,  the  white  tented  cities, 
the  brilliant  colors  of  the  national  flag,  the  purple  haze  of  the  distant 
clouds  and  the  golden  splendor  of  the  setting  sun  was  a  panorama  that 


THE  INAUGURATION.  225 

constantly  claimed  his  attention  and  a  color  picture  that  never  grew 
tiresome  to  him. 

Here  with  this  view  ever  before  him  the  President  received  his 
visitors.  Here  he  received  every  one,  from  the  Chief  Justice  and  Lieu- 
tenant-General to  the  private  soldier  and  the  humblest  citizen. 

Custom  had  established  certain  rules  of  procedure  and  the  order  in 
which  officials  should  be  received,  but  Mr.  Lincoln  transgressed  all 
former  rules  and  regulations  and  received  the  people  as  they  asked  for 
admittance.  They  came  to  him  as  children  come  to  their  father.  He 
saw  every  one  and  all  classes  approached  him  with  familiarity,  while 
many  no  doubt  wasted  his  precious  time.  Here  in  this  room,  day  after 
day,  often  from  early  morning  till  late  at  night,  the  President  sat,  lis- 
tened, talked  and  decided.    To  all  he  was  patient,  just,  considerate,  and 

hopeful. 

A    RETURN    TO    OLD    HABITS 

During  the  first  few  weeks  of  his  life  at  the  White  House  Mr.  Lin- 
coln, for  the  sake  of  his  wife  and  family,  tried  to  adopt  some  of  the  ex- 
pected conventionalities,  but  at  last  gave  it  up  as  a  bad  job  and  fell 
back  into  his  old  simple  ways.  His  native  sweetness  and  straightfor- 
wardness of  manner  served  to  disarm  criticism  and  impress  the  visitor 
that  he  was  before  a  man,  "pure,  self-poised,  collected  and  strong  in 
unconscious  strength."  To  the  men  and  women  worth  knowing  he  was 
in  mind  and  heart,  the  very  highest  type  of  soul-development?  and  by 
these  he  was  admired  and  loved  for  his  true  worth. 

THE    NATION    IN    PERIL 

The  great  and  masterful  work  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  life  was  begun.  The 
humble  boy,  born  and  reared  in  a  wretched  log  cabin,  was  now  the  most 
prominent  and  important  man  in  the  nation,  and  at  a  time  in  the  most 
perilous  period  of  the  nation's  history. 

His  first  duty  was  the  formal  designation  of  a  cabinet,  and  when 
the  entire  cabinet  was  completed,  no  one  for  a  moment  doubted  that  Mr. 
Lincoln  had  settled  his  choice  of  secretaries  before  he  left  home. 

The  men  brought  into  his  cabinet  were  prominent  candidates  for  the 
presidency  at  Chicago.    To  the  Hon.  Wm.  H.  Seward,  the  man  who  had 


226  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

kept  in  the  race  for  Presidential  honors,  neck  and  neck,  with  Abraham 
Lincoln  until  the  final  impetus  overthrew  him,  was  assigned  the  highest 
position  in  the  cabinet. 

And  now  came  the  sifting  process.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  determined  to 
retain  only  faithful  and  efficient  men;  men  whose  integrity  could  be 
relied  upon;  men  whose  country  was  to  them  a  sacred  trust;  men  whose 
hearts  beat  with  loyalty  and  patriotism,  for  the  Government  was  be- 
trayed every  day  by  its  own  agents.  The  task  was  an  herculean  one,  for 
Mr.  Lincoln  could  not  take  a  step  that  some  spy  in  the  departments,  or 
some  traitor  in  his  confidence,  did  not  report  to  his  enemies. 

GLOOMY     DAYS 

The  days  were  dark  and  gloomy  for  Mr.  Lincoln.  The  South  was 
determined  to  force  him  to  do  something  that  would  justify  the  Confed- 
eracy in  declaring  war.  The  press  and  his  supporters  were  clamoring 
for  something,  too,  hardly  knowing  what,  and  for  the  sake  of  calling 
their  impatient  and  unjust  criticism  by  some  name,  they  called  it  Mr. 
Lincoln's  "inactivity."  But  all  through  the  portentous  years  of  his 
administration  Mr.  Lincoln's  usual  characteristics — judgment,  prudence, 
foresight  and  honest,  thoughtful  conviction — carried  the  nation  safely 
through  its  awful  carnage  of  war  and  desolation  and  restored  the  Union 
to  a  mourning  and  mistaken  people. 

There  was  neither  time  nor  opportunity  for  enjoyment  of  domestic 
life,  for  Mr.  Lincoln's  days,  hours  and  minutes  were  full  of  distracting 
anxiety  and  desperate  worry.  There  was  treason  everywhere.  His 
foes,  North  and  South,  were  busy  with  their  schemes  for  the  destruction 
of  himself,  his  party  and  his  country.  He  was  thronged  with  office- 
seekers,  to  whose  claims  he  gave  his  personal  attention.  He  was  in 
almost  hourly  intercourse  with  prominent  men  from  every  section  of 
the  country;  he  was  holding  protracted  cabinet  meetings;  he  was  per- 
forming the  most  exhausting  labors. 

His  only  hours  of  recreation  were  in  the  early  morning,  when  seated 
on  the  veranda  or  in  the  beautiful  grounds  around  the  White  House, 
he  called  his  boys  about  him  and  entered  into  all  their  youthful  con- 


THE  INAUGURATION.  227 

versation  with  a  sympathy  that  lacked  neither  interest  nor  enthusiasm, 
jjrhen  he  threw  aside  business  and  anxiety,  and  in  his  old  simple  way 
entertained  his  boys  and  friends  with  genial  story  and  cordial  manner. 

SOCIETY    AT    WASHINGTON 

The  society  ways  of  Washington  did  not  embarrass  him,  in  fact  he 
did  not  allow  them  to  enter  into  his  life.  The  presence  of  cultured  and 
elegant  callers  did  not  interest  him,  and  the  array  of  servants  did  not 
surprise  him,  but  the  fine  music  which  soon  became  a  notable  feature  in 
Washington  thoroughly  pleased  him.  The  bands  were  his  especial  de- 
light, and  it  became  his  general  custom  throughout  his  entire  adminis^ 
tration  to  personally  thank  the  serenaders. 

A  few  weeks  after  the  Preeident's  arrival  in  Washington  he  was  the 
recipient  of  an  exceedingly  fine  serenade.  Upon  this  particular  occa- 
sion the  music  was  so  entirely  acceptable  that  he  wished  to  make  a 
more  than  ordinary  demonstration  and  in  order  to  show  a  full  apprecia- 
tion he  sought  out  Mrs.  Lincoln  and  invited  her  to  join  him  in  acknowl- 
edging the  delightful  pleasure.  Mrs.  Lincoln  acquiesced  and  the  two 
appeared  together. 

As  usual  any  ludicrous  situation  struck  him  bo  irresistibly  that  he 
was  always  compelled  to  entertain  it  in  some  way,  peculiarly  his  own, 
and  without  explanation  or  preface  he  simply  said,  "The  long  and  the 
short  of  it  thank  you,"  turned  about  and  went  back  into  the  house. 

WHAT    TROUBLES    YE.    ABE? 

The  recital  of  the  above  very  funny  incident  recalls  a  story  that  was 
told  to  me  by  Dennis  Hanks,  but  well-nigh  forgotten. 

The  year  was  1843,  the  scene  Charleston,  Illinois,  and  leaning  against 
the  side  of  the  old  court-house  was  Abraham  Lincoln;  his  attitude  was 
dejected,  his  air  melancholy,  and  his  face  expressive  of  trouble  and 
deep  thought. 

Dennis  Hanks  came  across  his  relative,  and  as  usual  his  curiosity 
asserted  itself.  Accosting  his  cousin  with  the  usual  greeting  of 
"Howdy,"  he  continued  by  saying:  "What  troubles  ye,  Abe?"  Mr. 
Hanks  had  of  course  noticed  my  anxiety  to  learn  the  remainder  of  the 


228  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

story,  and  pausing  intentionally,  he  waited  for  me  to  ask  of  him  Mr. 
Lincoln's  answer.  I  promptly  did  so,  and  received  the  following  in- 
formation: 

"Wall,"  said  Uncle  Dennis,  "Abe  jest  looked  at  me  with  one  of  his 
pecoolar  expressions  and  told  me  that  he  was  ^worrying  about  his  little 
baby  Bob/ 

"  ^What's  the  matter  with  him?'  ses  I.  Ses  Abe,  ^Nothing  now,  but 
I  was  wondering  what  I  should  do  if  the  child  grew  up  with  one  leg 
short  and  the  other  leg  long.  Mary  is  low  and  I  am  tall,  you  know,  and 
that's  the  long  and  short  of  it.' " 

I  could  not  control  myself  and  laughed  so  long  and  immoderately 
that  Mr.  Hanks  looked  at  me  in  perfect  contempt,  and  said,  "Wall, 
'twa'n't  no  laughing  matter  to  me,  I  ken  tell  ye."  And  "Why  not?" 
said  I. 

Mr.  Hanks'  manner  indicated  that  he  considered  me  the  most  per- 
fect ignoramus  that  he  had  ever  met,  and,  metaphorically  giving  me  the 
cold  shoulder,  replied,  "Wall,  I  recken  ye  ain't  ust  to  Abe's  ways.  When 
he  wanted  to  get  rid  of  a  feller  he'd  think  of  the  blaimdest  things  to  say 
that  ever  ye  heerd  of.    I  tell  ye  there  wus  no  mistakin'  his  meanin'." 

AN    ORDINARY    CmZEN 

Mr.  Lincoln  did  not  change  his  habits  in  any  way.  He  was  genial 
and  humorous,  without  being  immoderate  or  clownish;  he  was  grave 
and  dignified,  without  being  solemn  or  impressive;  he  was  cordial  and 
sympathetic,  without  being  extravagant  or  obtrusive. 

The  days  came  and  went,  and  yet  his  high  position  did  not  endow 
him  with  an  air  of  importance. 

He  was  interested  in  other  people's  affairs.  The  most  trivial  thing 
claimed  his  thought,  and  he  gave  as  much  attention  to  the  child's  com- 
plaint or  delight  as  he  did  to  the  sorrows  or  joys  of  older  folks. 

He  walked  about  the  city  and  greeted  friend,  neighbor  or  stranger 
with  the  same  familiarity  and  freedom  that  he  always  exhibited  in 
accosting  his  associates  or  chance  acquaintances  in  the  West. 

Had  it  not  been  for  his  unusual  stature  and  strange  personality,  he 
would  have  passed  along  the  streets  of  Washington  as  unnoticed  as 
any  ordinary  citizen. 


M 


CHAPTER  XXXIK 

THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  REBELLION 

R.  LINCOLN  was  determined  that  no  hostile  act  on  the  part  of 
the  Government  should  commence  the  war,  for  which  both  sides 
were  preparing;  although  an  act  of  open  war  had  already  trans- 
pired in  Charleston  harbor,  for  which  the  South  was  responsible. 

On  the  twelfth  of  April  the  surrender  of  Fort  Sumter  was  de- 
manded. The  city  of  Charleston  was  full  of  troops,  and  for  months 
batteries  had  been  in  course  of  construction.  Major  Anderson,  who  was 
in  command  at  Fort  Sumter,  had  seen  these  batteries  going  up,  day 
after  day,  without  the  liberty  to  fire  a  gun.  He  declined  to  surrender. 
He  was  called  upon  to  state  when  he  would  evacuate  the  fort.  He 
replied  that  on  the  fifteenth  of  the  month  he  would  do  so,  unless  he 
received  other  instructions  from  the  Government.  The  response  which 
Major  Anderson  received  was,  "that  the  Confederate  batteries  would 
open  on  Fort  Sumter  in  one  hour  from  the  date  of  the  message."  The 
date  of  the  message  being  "April  12,  1861,  3:30  A.  M.'' 

"At  half-past  four  the  batteries  opened  upon  the  fort,  which,  after 
a  long  and  terrible  bombardment  and  a  gallant  defense,  was  surren- 
dered the  following  day." 

This  was  practically  the  initial  act  of  the  war.  Mr.  Lincoln,  by  his  de- 
termined forbearance,  had  thrown  the  responsibility  of  the  actual  com- 
mencement of  war  upon  the  Confederate  Government  ^^ever  by  word 
or  deed  or  concealed  intention,"  he  declared,  "had  he  wronged  the  South, 
or  denied  its  right  under  the  Constitution."  By  no  hostile  act  had  he 
provoked  war.  From  the  time  he  began  his  career  as  President  of  the 
United  States,  he  had  breathed  none  but  pacific  words. 

THE    FALL    OF    SUMTER 

On  Sunday,  the  fourteenth  of  April,  all  Washington  was  alive  with 
excitement  over  the  news  of  the  fall  of  Sumter.  Churches  were  for- 
saken and  the  opening  of  the  war  was  the  only  topic  of  conversation. 

229 


230  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

"The  fall  of  Sumter  was  the  resurrection  of  patriotism/'  Such  a 
universal  burst  of  patriotic  indignation  as  ran  over  the  North  under 
the  influence  of  this  insult  to  the  national  flag  had  never  been  witnessed. 
It  swept  away  all  party  lines  as  if  it  had  been  flame  and  they  had  been 
flax.  All  disloyalty  was  silenced.  It  was  worth  a  lifetime  of  indiffer- 
ence or  discord  to  feel  and  to  see  a  nation  thus  once  more  united  in 
thought  and  purpose. 

DOUGLAS    OFFERS    ASSISTANCE 

A  personal  friend  of  both  Mr.  Lincoln  and  Mr.  Douglas  said  toi  the 
latter:  "Go  to  the  President  and  tell  him  that  you  will  sustain  him 
in  all  needful  measures." 

Mr.  Douglas  demurred  and  then  replied:  "I  don't  know  as  he  wants 
my  advice  or  aid."  The  mutual  friend  insisted.  Mrs.  Douglas  came 
into  the  room  and  added  her  affectionate  influence.  Mr.  Douglas  could 
not  withstand  the  influence  of  his  wife,  and  his  better  nature  gave  way 
to  her  appeal.  He  relinquished  all  his  enmity,  and  declared  his  will- 
ingness to  go  to  Mr.  Lincoln  and  offer  him  his  earnest  and  hearty 
support 

It  was  nearly  dark  when  the  two  gentlemen  started  for  the  Presi- 
dent's house.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  alone,  and  on  learning  their  errand  gave 
them  a  cordial  welcome. 

Mr.  Lincoln  opened  his  heart  and  plans  to  Mr.  Douglas,  and  read  to 
him  the  proclamation  calling  for  seventy-five  thousand  troops.  When 
he  had  finished  Mr.  Douglas  said:  "Mr.  President,  I  cordially  concur 
in  every  word  of  that  document,  except  that  instead  of  the  call  for 
seventy-five  thousand  men  I  would  make  it  two  hundred  thousand."  He 
then  enlarged  upon  the  firm,  warlike  course  which  should  be  pursued, 
while  Mr.  Lincoln  listened  with  earnest  interest,  and  the  two  old  political 
foes  parted  that  night  perfectly  united  in  a  patriotic  purpose. 

Mr.  Douglas  devoted  the  remainder  of  his  brief  life  with  unwearied 
devotion  to  the  calls  of  his  country. 

Mr.  Lincoln  felt  his  death  as  a  calamity,  for  he  had  been  of  great 
service  to  him,  especially  in  bringing  to  the  support  of  the  Government 


THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  REBELLION.  231 

an  element  which  a  word  from  him  at  a  favorable  moment  would  have 

alienated, 

THE    CALL    FOR    VOLUNTEERS 

Now  was  the  time  for  Mr.  Lincoln  to  act.  If  he  had  raised  an  army 
earlier  that  would  have  been  an  act  of  hostility. 

On  the  fifteenth  of  April  the  President  issued  a  proclamation  calling 
upon  the  loyal  States  for  seventy-five  thousand  men.  "I  appeal,"  said 
Mr.  Lincoln  in  this  proclamation,  "to  all  loyal  citizens  to  favor,  facilitate 
and  aid  this  effort  to  maintain  the  honor,  the  integrity  and  the  existence 
of  our  national  union,  and  the  perpetuity  of  popular  government,  and 
to  redress  the  wrongs  already  long  enough  endured."  This  proclama- 
tion was  received  by  the  people  with  great  excitement,  but  it  was  a 
healthy  excitement 

In  glancing  back  over  the  history  of  the  great  rebellion  one  reverts 
to  the  first  proclamation  and  it  is  with  a  sense  of  grim  humor,  almost, 
that  one  again  reads  that  famous  document  and  actually  realizes  that, 
not  only  the  President,  but  nearly  the  entire  North  believed  that  seventy- 
five  thousand  men  could  quell  in  a  short  space  of  three  months  the 
tremendous  uprising. 

The  fight  was  not  between  alien  races  or  nations,  but  brother  against 
brother;  the  blood  that  is  aroused  to  drink  its  own  blood  knows  no 
surcease.  It  cries  for  more  and  more  until  the  reservoirs  are  dry  and 
useless. 

That  the  new  generation  may  appreciate  the  document  and  its  in- 
tent, that  the  call  included  sufficient  number  to  suppress  the  insurrec- 
tion and  cause  the  laws  to  be  duly  executed,  a  true  copy  of  the  original 
proclamation  is  herewith  reproduced: 

PROCLAMATION 

By  the  President  of  the  United  States. 

Whereas,  the  laws  of  the  United  States  have  been  for  some  time  past 
and  now  are  opposed,  and  the  execution  thereof  obstructed,  in  the  States 
of  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  Alabama,  Florida,  Mississippi,  Louisiana, 
and  Texas,  by  combinations  too  powerful  to  be  suppressed  by  the  ordi- 


232  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

nary  course  of  judicial  proceedings,  or  by  the  powers  vested  in  the  mar- 
shals by  law;  now,  therefore,  I,  Abraham  Lincoln,  President  of  the 
United  States,  in  virtue  of  the  power  in  me  vested  by  the  Constitution 
and  the  laws,  have  thought  fit  to  call  forth,  and  hereby  do  call  forth,  the 
militia  of  the  several  states  of  the  Union,  to  the  aggregate  number  of 
seventy-five  thousand,  in  order  to  suppress  said  combinationSj  and  to 
cause  the  laws  to  be  duly  executed. 

The  details  for  this  object  will  be  immediately  communicated  to  the 
State  authorities  through  the  War  Department.  I  appeal  to  all  loyal 
citizens  to  favor,  facilitate  and  aid  this  effort  to  maintain  the  honor,  the 
integrity  and  the  existence  of  our  National  Union,  and  the  perpetuity  of 
popular  government,  and  to  redress  wrongs  already  long  enough  en- 
dured. I  deem  it  proper  to  say  that  the  first  service  assigned  to  the 
forces  hereby  called  forth  will  probably  be  to  repossess  the  forts,  places 
and  property  which  have  been  seized  from  the  Union;  and  in  every  event 
the  utmost  care  will  be  observed,  consistently  with  the  objects  afore- 
said, to  avoid  any  devastation,  any  destruction  of,  or  interference  with, 
property,  or  any  disturbance  of  peaceful  citizens  of  any  part  of  the  coun- 
try; and  I  hereby  command  the  persons  composing  the  combinations 
aforesaid  to  disperse  and  retire  peaceably  to  their  respective  abodes, 
within  twenty  days  from  this  date. 

Deeming  that  the  present  condition  of  public  affairs  presents  an 
extraordinary  occasion,  I  do  hereby,  in  virtue  of  the  power  in  me  vested 
by  the  Constitution,  convene  both  houses  of  Congress.  The  Senators 
and  Representatives  are,  therefore,  summoned  to  assemble  at  their  re- 
spective chambers,  at  twelve  o'clock  noon,  on  Thursday,  the  fourth  day 
of  July  next,  then  and  there  to  consider  and  determine  such  measures  as, 
in  their  wisdom,  the  public  safety  and  interest  may  seem  to  demand. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand,  and  caused  the  seal 
of  the  United  States  to  be  affixed. 

Done  at  the  City  of  Washington,  this  fifteenth  day  of  April,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-one,  and  of  the 
independence  of  the  United  States  the  eighty-fifth. 

By  the  President.  Abraham  Lincoln. 

William  H.  Seward,  Secretary  of  State. 


THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  REBELLION.  233 

The  South  knew  that  war  must  come,  and  they  were  prepared. 
When,  therefore,  Mr.  Lincoln  called  for  seventy-j6.ve  thousand  men,  they 
met  the  proclamation  with  a  howl  of  derision. 

MASSACHUSETTS    FIRST    TO    RESPOND 

Massachusetts  was  the  first  State  to  respond  to  the  call  for  troops. 
The  marching  effect  of  the  Massachusetts  Sixth  was  very  great.  The 
hearts  of  the  people  were  stirred  all  along  their  route  by  the  most 
powerful  emotions.  They  were  fed  and  applauded  at  every  station. 
Women  thronged  around  the  cars,  and  presented  them  with  Bibles  and 
other  gifts^  and  gave  them  tearful  blessings.  New  York  City  was 
greatly  impressed  when  the  soldiers  marched  through  the  great 
metropolis.  Men  forgot  their  business  and  gave  themselves  up  to  the 
excitement  of  the  day.  They  praised  the  men  for  their  prompt  and 
gallant  action  and  bade  them  godspeed  and  a  quick  return. 

On  its  way  through  Baltimore  the  Sixth  Kegiment  was  attacked  by 
a  mob  carrying  a  Confederate  flag,  and  several  of  its  members  were 
killed  and  wounded.  This  outrage  added  new  fuel  to  the  fire.  The 
North  was  growing  angry;  that  a  loyal  regiment  could  not  pass  through 
a  nominally  loyal  city  on  its  way  to  protect  the  national  capital  without 
fighting  its  way,  aroused  a  storm  of  indignation  that  swept  over  the 
whole  9f  loyal  America. 

Four  days  after  Mr.  Lincoln's  call  for  troops  he  issued  a  proclama- 
tion declaring  a  blockade  of  the  ports  of  South  Carolina,  Georgia, 
Alabama,  Florida,  Mississippi,  Louisiana  and  Texas.  "This  call  for 
troops  and  the  establishment  of  a  blockade  were  the  preliminaries  of 
one  of  the  most  remarkable  wars  that  have  occurred  in  the  history  of 
the  human  race — a  war  which  for  number  of  men  involved,  the  amount 
of  territory  traversed,  of  coast  line  blockaded,  of  material  consumed 
and  results  achieved,  surpasses  all  the  wars  of  history." 

THE    WAR    A    REALITY 

No  one  seemed  to  doubt  that  the  rebellion  might  be  crushed  in  a 
few  months  at  most.  The  people  did  not  comprehend  the  detail  of  a 
war,  and  patience  was  a  virtue  which  it  took  four  years  to  teach  them. 


234  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

Every  loyal  man  had  a  direct  interest  in  the  war;  and  he  judged  every 
movement  and  every  delay  as  if  it  were  his  own  private  enterprise. 

There  were  many  inconveniences  and  much  annoyance  in  this;  but 
In  this  universal  interest  lay  the  secret  of  those  four  years  of  devotion 
to  the  war  which  so  astonished  the  people  of  other  lands  and  made 
victory  an  ultimate  success. 

Two  days  after  the  issue  of  President  Lincoln's  proclamation  Presi- 
dent Davis  replied.  In  his  proclamation  he  stated  it  as  a  fact  that  the 
President  of  the  United  States  had  declared  his  intention  of  invading 
the  Confederacy,  and  thereby  subverting  its  independence.  The  Con- 
federate President  invited  all  who  were  willing  to  aid  the  Government 
in  resisting  such  aggression  to  apply  for  commissions  or  letters  of 
reprisal. 

TROOPS    RESPONDING    TO    CALL 

The  first  troops  to  reach  Washington  were  six  hundred  Pennsyl- 
vanians,  who  arrived  on  the  nineteenth  of  April,  the  anniversary  of 
the  battle  of  Lexington. 

States  were  seceding,  and  every  day  brought  its  startling  events. 
On  the  third  of  May  President  Lincoln  issued  another  call  for  soldiers. 
By  this  time  the  Government  had  gained  some  idea  of  the  sort  of 
task  before  it,  and  the  volunteers  were  required  to  enlist  for  three 
years,  or  for  the  war. 

Washington  and  the  country  about  was  full  of  troops,  and  the 
whole  country,  both  North  and  South,  was  in  a  turmoil  of  excitement. 

A  secession  flag  floated  over  a  building  in  Alexandria,  in  sight  of 
the  capitol  at  Washington,  and  the  Confederate  forces  were  massing 
close  to  the  nation's  home. 

THE    PRESIDENT'S    BRAVERY 

There  was  considerable  suspicion,  and  with  good  reason,  too,  that 
there  were  men  in  the  National  Capitol  who  would  not  hesitate  to  take 
the  life  of  the  President,  and  government  officials  were  determined  to 
surround  Mr.  Lincoln  with  an  armed  bodyguard.  He  had  an  extreme 
aversion  to  anything  that  savored  of  imperialism,  and  positively  declin* 


THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  REBELLION,  235 

Ing  the  protection  of  a  personal  guard,  remarked:  '*It  would  never  do 
for  a  President  to  have  guards  with  drawn  sabres  at  his  door,  as  if  he 
fancied  he  were,  or  were  trying  to  be,  or  assuming  to  be,  an  emperor/' 
At  last,  however,  a  cavalry  guard  was  placed  at  the  gates  of  the  White 
House  for  awhile,  and  it  is  stated  that  he  said  privately  he  "was  worried 
until  he  got  rid  of  if 

Finally  intimate  friends  remonstrated,  and  to  them  he  expressed 
himself  as  follows:  "If  they  kill  me,  the  next  man  will  be  just  as  bad 
for  them;  and  in  a  country  like  this,  where  our  habits  are  simple,  and 
must  be,  assassination  is  always  possible,  and  will  come,  if  they  are 
determined  upon  it." 

Mr.  Lincoln,  during  his  entire  administration,  resisted  all  efforts  to 
place  about  him  military  guards,  and  would  often  ride  alone  in  an 
open  carriage  to  and  from  his  summer  home,  near  Washington.  He 
was  also  constantly  seen  about  the  streets  of  the  city,  even  after  night- 
fall, unattended  by  either  servant  or  associate, 

ELLSWORTH^S    DEATH 

On  the  twenty-fourth  of  May  the  gallant  and  lamented  Colonel  Ells- 
worth was  sent  with  his  regiment  of  Zouaves  to  Alexandria.  Colonel 
Ellsworth,  on  landing  at  Alexandria  without  resistance,  went  per- 
sonally to  the  Marshall  House,  and  mounting  to  the  top,  pulled  down 
the  secession  flag  with  which  the  proprietor  of  the  hotel  for  weeks  had 
been  insulting  the  authorities  at  Washington.  On  descending,  the 
owner  shot  him  dead. 

Ellworth's  death  affected  Mr.  Lincoln  with  peculiar  sorrow.  He 
had  known  the  young  man  well.  At  one  time  he  was  a  student  in  Mr. 
Lincoln's  law  office,  and  had  accompanied  the  President  to  Washington. 
The  body  of  the  young  martyr  was  borne  sadly  back  to  Washington,  and 
received  into  the  White  House  itself,  where  the  funeral  took  place,  Mr. 
Lincoln  himself  assuming  the  position  of  chief  mourner. 

FIRST    BATTLE    OF    THE    REBELLION 

On  the  tenth  of  June  occurred,  at  Big  Bethel,  the  first  battle  of  con- 
siderable importance.    It  was  badly  managed  on  the  part  of  the  Union 


236  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

forces;  and,  in  the  excited  and  expectant  state  of  public  mind,  produced 
a  degree  of  discouragement  all  over  the  North. 

THE    NATION^S    BIRTHDAY 

The  nation's  birthday  had  again  rolled  around  and  wonderful  sights 
were  presented.  The  bells  rang  out  and  the  cannon  thundered,  but  not 
in  commemoration  of  that  Declaration  of  Independence  which  eighty- 
five  years  previous  had  stirred  the  hearts  of  our  forefathers  with  wild  en- 
thusiasm, as  "high  in  the  belfry  the  old  sexton  stands"  and  under  the 
impetus  of  his  trembling  hands  the  little  messenger  rang  out  the  glad 
tidings — freedom,  liberty,  and  equal  rights. 

The  occasion  was  akin  and  the  silent  ranks  of  the  old  Continental 
troops  looked  down  upon  twenty-five  thousand  boys  in  blue.  Their 
muskets  were  flashing,  the  bands  were  playing,  the  national  insignia 
was  streaming  away  down  the  long  line  of  marching  troops;  men  were 
hurrahing,  women  v/ere  waving  their  handkerchiefs  and  children  were 
clapping  their  hands. 

Everything  was  excitement  and  confidence  and  exultation;  but  the 
President  stood  with  head  bared,  a  silent  spectator,  profoundly  sad.  To 
him  this  was  no  gala  day.  He  was  anxious  and  troubled,  for  his  in- 
tuitive perceptions  mirrored  broken  ranks  and  sorrowing  hearts. 

THE    BATTLE    OF    BULL    RUN 

A  few  days  later  all  the  troops  in  Washington  crossed  the  long 
bridge  and  marched  straight  out  toward  the  enemy. 

The  large  army  on  the  Virginia  side  of  the  Potomac  was  determined 
to  push  forward  and  engage  with  the  Confederate  forces,  which  had 
been  gathered  at  Manassas. 

The  battle  began  on  the  nineteenth  day  of  July,  and  ended  on  the 
twenty-first  in  a  most  terrible  rout  of  the  Union  forces.  The  whole 
army,  upon  which  the  President  and  the  people  had  rested  such  strong 
hope  and  expectation,  was  broken  in  pieces,  and  came  flying  toward 
Washington,  panic-stricken,  worn  out,  disorganized  and  utterly  de- 
molished. 


THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  REBELLION.  237 

The  loss  of  this  battle  cost  the  country  a  fearful  amount  of  sacrifice. 
The  loyal  masses  were  put  to  such  a  test  of  their  patriotism  as  they 
had  never  before  been  subjected  to.  The  work  had  all  to  be  done 
again  under  the  most  discouraging  circumstances.  Among  all  the 
millions  to  whom  this  event  brought  sorrow  there  was  not  one  who 
suffered  so  keenly  as  the  tender-hearted  and  patient  man,  who,  walking 
back  and  forth  between  the  White  House  and  the  War  Department^ 
felt  the  great  burden  of  it  all  upon  his  own  shoulders. 

THE    PRESIDENT'S    PROIVIISES 

A  few  days  after  this  terrible  and  awful  mistake,  when  Mr.  Lincoln 
had  somewhat  recovered  from  his  depression,  he  made  a  personal  visit 
to  the  army  in  Virginia.  It  is  said  by  his  biographers  and  many  eye- 
witnesses who  are  still  living  that  he  tried  to  cover  his  real  feeling  by  an 
attempt  at  pleasant  raillery,  and  to  General  Sherman,  who  was  at  that 
time  connected  with  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  he  said:  "I  have  heard 
that  you  have  got  over  the  big  scare,  and  I  thought  I  would  come  over 
and  see  the  boys." 

The  drums  beat  the  "assembly  call"  and  the  different  regiments  were 
so  arranged  that  Mr.  Lincoln  could  address  them.  Upon  this  occasion, 
as  well  as  upon  all  similar  ones,  he  promised  the  soldiers  all  that  the 
law  would  permit  him  to  give  them,  and  urged  them  to  appeal  to  him 
personally  in  case  they  were  wronged. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

CONTINUATION  OF  THE  WAR 

THE  war  had  now  assumed  vast  proportions.      Young  men,  old 
men,  men  in  their  youth  and  vigor,  men  older  but  patriotic  to  the 
core,  had  been  sacrificed.  Love  and  loyalty  were  extended  as  free- 
ly as  the  gifts  of  Heaven,  money  was  expended  with  a  lavish  hand,  and 
yet  there  seemed  no  surcease. 

The  great  octopus  of  war  was  reaching  out  and  crushing  and  slaying 
the  flower  of  the  country,  and  how  was  it  all  to  end?  Nothing  had 
been  gained;  the  path  ahead  was  long  and  dreary,  and  the  nation 
sorrowed  and  waited. 

EXTRA    SESSION    OF    CONGRESS 

The  President's  proclamation  called  for  an  extra  session  of  Congress 
for  July  the  fourth.  The  great  men  composing  this  body  came  together 
and  received  with  profound  interest  the  President's  message. 

The  opening  portions  of  the  document  were  strictly  historical  of  the 
events  of  the  rebellion  up  to  the  date  of  its  beginning.  Then  the  princi- 
ples that  govern  the  rights  and  privileges  of  the  people  were  set  forth, 
and  their  duties  outlined.  The  question  was  presented  whether  a  govern- 
ment of  the  people  by  the  same  people  could  maintain  its  territorial 
integrity  against  its  own  domestic  foe.  It  also  put  the  question  whether 
discontented  individuals  can,  upon  the  pretenses  made  in  the  case,  or 
any  other  pretense,  or  arbitrarily,  break  up  their  government  and  thus 
practically  put  an  end  to  free  government  upon  the  earth. 

It  recommended  Congress  to  make  the  contest  a  short  and  decisive 
one,  by  placing  at  the  control  of  the  Government  four  hundred  thousand 
men  and  four  hundred  million  dollars. 

The  document  had  the  old  metallic  ring  of  the  western  orator,  and 
Congress  was  ready  to  do  all  that  the  President  desired,  and  even  more. 
Instead  of  four  hundred  million  dollars,  they  placed  at  his  disposal 
five  hundred  millions,  and  instead  of  confining  his  levy  of  troops  to 

238 


CONTINUATION  OF  THE  WAR.  239 

four  hundred  thousand,  they  gave  him  liberty  to  call  out  half  a  million. 
They  also  legalized  all  steps  that  he  had  so  far  taken  for  the  suppres- 
sion of  the  rebellion,  and  labored  in  all  ways  to  strengthen  his  hands 
and  encourage  his  heart. 

The  session  closed,  having  lasted  a  month,  and  the  President  found 
himself  abundantly  supported  and  the  means  in  his  hands  for  carrying 
on  the  great  contest, 

EFFECT    OF    LINCOLN'S    MESSAGE 

Mr.  Lincoln's  message  accomplished  what  he  had  intended  it  should, 
although  it  was  criticised  by  the  public  printer  as  not  being  a  campaign 
document  or  stump  speech,  but  an  important  state  paper  that  would 
become  an  historic  record  for  all  coming  time. 

Mr.  Lincoln's  days  were  too  busy,  and  his  thoughts  so  entirely 
directed  to  the  pressing  needs  of  the  hour,  that  he  had  no  time  to 
prepare  his  speeches  or  writings  with  the  same  care  that  he  had  pre- 
viously given  to  them.  When  a  duty  was  upon  him  and  a  principle 
needed  elucidating,  or  a  burden  called  for  removal,  or  a  sorrow  pleaded 
for  sympathy,  or  a  wrong  sought  justice,  then  this  man  was  at  the  head 
of  his  cohorts  and  the  first  battalion  was  used;  he  did  not  go  searching 
among  the  gold  lace  and  feather-decorated  officers  for  his  support;  the 
rank  and  file  were  good  enough  for  him.  These  he  seized  upon  and 
pressed  into  service.  They  did  not  respond  with  laggardly  action, 
but  freely  and  speedily  they  came  to  the  rescue.  He  had  no  desire  to 
look  up  elegant  diction;  he  had  no  use  for  high  sounding  words,  and 
he  had  no  time  to  make  a  choice  and  symmetrical  arrangement  of  his 
sentences. 

The  need  of  the  awful  hour  was  upon  him,  and  he  must  command 
the  necessary  forces ;  he  must  secure  them  in  the  shortest  possible  time, 
and  he  intended  to  use  only  the  handiest  and  the  most  useful  tools. 

The  phrase  to  which  the  public  printer  called  Mr.  Lincoln's  attention 
consisted  of  the  two  following  words,  "sugar-coated,"  and  when  the 
man  of  typography  suggested  that  they  were  not  entirely  becoming  or 
dignified  for  the  President's  use,  Mr.  Lincoln  good-naturedly  replied 


240  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

to  his  no  doubt  kind  but  foolishly  punctilious  friend,  "If  you  think  the 
time  will  ever  come  when  the  people  will  not  understand  what  sugar- 
coated  means,  I  will  alter  it;  otherwise,  I  think  I'll  let  it  go."  To  make 
people  understand  exactly  what  he  meant  was  his  grand  and  only  aim. 
Beyond  that,  he  had  not  the  slightest  ambition  to  go. 

Congress  had  taken  the  most  vigorous  and  effective  measures  for  the 
suppression  of  the  rebellion,  having  clothed  the  President  with  even 
greater  power  than  he  had  asked  for  in  the  prosecution  of  the  war,  and 
avoided  with  just  fidelity  all  points  which  could  weaken  the  loyal  senti- 
ment of  the  country.  The  people  responded  with  hearty  applause  to 
the  patriotic  action  of  their  representatives,  and  the  universal  temper 
of  the  country  was  one  of  buoyancy  and  hope. 

ANXIOUS    DAYS 

Anxious  days  were  now  again  upon  the  people.  Sanguine  expecta- 
tions of  prompt  and  decisive  victory  had  been  universally  entertained, 
and  the  general  belief  of  the  country  was  that  the  war  would  be  of 
short  duration.  But  recent  reverses  had  demonstrated  the  fact  that 
the  enemy  was  well  equipped,  and  its  forces  were  a  host  of  bold  and 
determined  soldiers.  While  the  Union  army  was  composed  of  equally 
as  good  men,  whose  hearts  were  filled  with  loyalty  and  patriotism,  yet 
they  knew  that  they  had  no  common  foe  to  deal  with.  Neither  army 
had  any  idea  of  submission,  and  thus  there  was  the  prospect  of  a  long 
and  bloody  war. 

There  were  a  number  of  engagements  of  greater  or  less  importance, 
and  the  nation  was  in  mourning,  for  thousands  of  brave  men  had  given 
up  their  lives  in  desperate  struggle,  striving  to  maintain  the  honor  of 
their  country  and  restore  the  Union.  Three  times  the  number  of  the 
dead  had  been  wounded,  maimed  and  crippled  for  life,  and  many  had 
been  taken  prisoners. 

Winthrop,  Ellsworth,  Baker,  C3ameron,  Slocum,  Ballon,  Haggerty- 
Lyon  and  Johnson,  brave  men  they,  had  responded  to  the  last  reveille 
and  had  gone  on  to  bivouac  beside  the  still  waters  in  pastures  green 
and  fair.  The  ranks  did  not  close  up,  for  the  vacant  places  were  quickly 
filled  with  other  brave  men  who  feared  neither  danger  nor  death. 


CONTINUATION  OF  THE   WAR.  241 

The  hundreds  of  thousands  of  troops  were  pressing  forward,  and 
yet  the  dogs  of  war  would  not  let  go  their  hold.  Mr.  Lincoln,  who  had 
a  long  time  before  so  plainly  and  prophetically  seen  and  declared  the 
present  condition  of  the  country,  suffered  in  silence.  Suffered  because 
of  the  terrible  destruction  of  human  life;  suffered  because  mothers 
were  agonized;  suffered  because  wives  wept;  suffered  because  children 
were  fatherless;  suffered  because  contumely,  criticism  and  censure  were 
heaped  upon  him. 

THE    DEAD    AND    DYING 

He  heard  the  voice  of  wailing  in  the  land,  but  he  too  was  agonized 
and  unreconciled  and  had  no  words  of  comfort  for  the  bleeding  hearts ; 
he  heard  the  unjust  words  of  condemnation,  but  would  not  retaliate. 
He  had  an  abiding  faith  in  the  well-doing  of  all  things,  that  the  blood 
of  the  martyrs  would  enrich  the  hearts  of  the  afflicted  and  in  the  days 
to  come  the  memory  of  the  brave  and  departed  dead  would  stimulate 
the  people  to  a  renewed  and  an  everlasting  love  for  freedom  and  liberty; 
that  the  intent  of  his  thoughts  and  the  cause  of  his  acts  were  pure, 
unselfish  and  wise;  that  vindication  would  come;  that  the  Union 
would  be  restored. 

Congress  met  in  regular  session  on  the  second  day  of  December, 
1861.  On  the  next  day  the  President  sent  in  his  annual  message,  which 
was  a  statement  of  the  condition  of  the  country  and  the  progress  of  the 
war;  an  exact  and  detailed  account  of  the  expenditures  of  the  year, 
which  of  course  were  enormous;  of  the  interference  of  foreign  nations; 
of  the  rights  of  labor,  of  the  rights  of  capital,  and  of  the  preservation 
of  the  nation. 

THE  WHITE  HOUSE  RECEPTION 

The  reception  given  at  the  White  House  on  New  Year's  Day,  1862, 
was  a  brilliant  and  memorable  affair — not  because  it  was  conducted 
with  pomp  and  ceremony,  but  because  it  was  attended  by  dis- 
tinguished army  officers,  whose  gorgeous  uniforms  lent  unusual  bril- 
liancy to  the  scene;  not  only  because  beautiful  and  accomplished  women 


242  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

were  present  in  gay  and  rich  attire;  not  because  famed  savants  were  in 
attendance;  but  because  everybody  was  there,  the  rich  and  the  poor,  the 
millionaire  and  the  pauper,  the  young  and  the  old.  In  fact  the  popu- 
lace mingled  and  touched  the  elbow  of  the  exclusive;  the  plebeian  and 
the  patrician,  the  priest  and  the  peasant,  pushed  and  jostled  each  other. 
It  was  a  motley  and  never-to-be  forgotten  throng;  some  had  come  for  the 
purpose  of  curiosity,  others  to  sneer  and  scoff;  but  more  to  touch  the 
hand  of  the  good  man  and  to  receive  a  personal  greeting,  if  but  a 
single  word. 

This  usual  custom  of  the  New  Year  did  not  conceal  the  fact  that  an 
awful  struggle  was  going  on,  did  not  for  a  moment  palliate  the  sorrow, 
the  agony  and  death  that  had  come  to  thousands  upon  thousands  there* 
from ;  did  not  conceal  the  stern  facts,  nor  lessen  the  President's  anxiety 
and  apprehension.  It  was  given  merely  in  accordance  with  the  cere- 
monial custom  of  previous  years  and  because  the  people  demanded  it. 

IT    WAS    SLAUGHTER 

The  new  year  1862  came,  but  not  with  the  rejoicing  of  previous  years. 
The  land  was  filled  with  blood  and  tears,  and  the  people  could  not  see 
ahead  for  the  rivers  of  mist,  for  the  mountains  of  sorrow  and  for  the 
doubt  of  expectancy. 

Still  the  battle  raged  and  the  opposing  forces  attacked  each  other 
with  greater  violence  and  stronger  determination.  It  was  not  fighting, 
it  was  slaughter.  Slaughter  on  land  and  on  sea.  The  country  both 
north  and  south  were  sending  their  brave  men  and  good  citizens,  and 
both  were  struggling  with  the  desperation  of  a  dying  man,  one  fighting 
for  the  restoration  of  the  Union  and  the  other  fighting  for  a  cause  that 
its  people  had  been  led  to  believe  was  just  and  righteous. 

The  North  was  meeting  with  reverses  and  the  South  was  confident. 

The  horrors  of  the  situation  were  increasing  daily.  The  dead  and 
the  dying  were  everywhere,  and  to  the  country  the  hurt  was  well  nigh 
mortal. 

'  LINCOLN'S    PERSONAL    GRIEF 

In  February,  1862,  Abraham  Lincoln  was  engulfed  in  a  personal 


CONTINUATION  OF  THE   WAR,  243 

grief  in  the  loss  of  his  beautiful  son,  Willie.  Striving  to  overcome  this 
personal  heart  sorrow,  all  his  own,  but  being  unable  to  reconcile  him- 
self to  his  precious  child's  death  he  cried  out  in  agony,  "I  need  the 
sympathy  and  prayers  of  my  people  in  this,  the  hardest  trial  of  my 
life."  He  did  not  plead  in  vain,  for  devout  supplication  ascended  to 
the  Throne  of  Grace,  and  the  nation  sorrowed. 

The  nation  needed  his  every  moment,  and  he  could  take  no  time  to 
indulge  in  the  luxury  of  grief.  His  lesser  and  more  personal  grief  must 
give  way  to  the  larger  and  more  agonizing  sorrow.  His  son  had  been 
carefully  nursed  through  his  hours  of  sickness  and  pain  by  a  loving 
mother  and  a  tender  father,  but  the  brave  and  faithful  boys  of  other 
fathers  and  mothers  had  lain  upon  the  battlefield  uncared  for,  with  the 
life-blood  ebbing  away.  Cold,  wet,  hungry,  wounded,  dying,  lips  parched 
with  thirst,  heads  throbbing  with  pain,  their  hearts  had  cried  out  for 
succor  and  comfort,  while  strong  men  with  the  dew  of  death  upon  their 
brows  had  wept  for  a  sight  of  the  old  home,  a  touch  of  the  tender  hand 
and  a  sound  of  the  dear  voice  ere  they  left  the  earthly  scenes.  Lads 
with  the  death  rattle  in  their  throats  were  wailing  and  sobbing  in  their 
agony  for  the  tender  care  and  gentle,  loving  words  of  the  dear  mothers 
at  home,  who  were  watching  and  praying  for  their  boys'  safe  return. 

All  this  agony  and  sorrow  cost  the  President  so  much,  his  faith  was 
nearly  exhausted,  his  heart  was  almost  broken,  and  his  head  was 
throbbing  with  the  intensity  of  thought. 

RIGHT    MUST    CONQUER 

Mr.  Lincoln  had  now  another  great  question  to  grapple  with.  It 
had  been  an  ever-present  one  during  all  the  operations  of  the  year.  The 
question  of  slavery  arose,  and  on  March  6,  1862,  the  President  sent  to 
Congress  a  message  which  indicated  very  clearly  the  tendency  of  the 
President's  reflections  upon  the  general  relations  of  slavery  to  the 
rebellion. 

The  President  had  upon  many  occasions  tried  to  convince  the  people 
of  the  Southern  States  that  if  they  persisted  in  their  efforts  to  over- 
throw the  Government  of  the  United  States,  the  fate  of  slavery  would 


2U  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

sooner  or  later  inevitably  be  involved  in  the  conflict.  The  time  was 
steadily  approaching  when,  in  consequence  of  their  persistence  in  the 
rebellion,  this  result  would  follow,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  tried  in  every  way 
to  make  them  understand  what  it  would  mean  when  this  question  was 
settled. 

The  people  in  general  were  in  harmony  with  Mr.  Lincoln's  views  upon 
the  question  of  slavery,  and  with  him  exhausted  every  means  which 
justice  would  sanction  to  withdraw  the  people  of  the  Southern  States 
from  the  disastrous  war  which  they  were  now  engaged  in. 

Though  the  more  radical  and  hot-headed  men  insisted  upon  imme- 
diate action,  Mr.  Lincoln  did  not  believe  the  time  was  ripe  for  an 
emancipation  proclamation  and  resisted  the  demand  of  the  agitators, 
going  so  far  as  to  say  that  if  the  time  had  come  for  the  liberation  of 
the  slaves  by  proclamation,  "the  act  of  Congress  to  the  contrary  would 
not  stand  in  my  way." 

The  people  were  denouncing  Mr.  Lincoln  for  his  lack  of  backbone, 
but  that  did  not  concern  him,  for  he  was  determined  to  take  no  steps 
which  he  should  be  obliged  to  retrace,  or  a  step  that  would  in  any  way 
interfere  with  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  What  he  did  or 
did  not  do  was  because  he  had  the  welfare  of  the  nation  at  heart,  and 
in  one  of  his  public  documents  he  said,  "What  I  do,  I  do  because  I 
believe  it  helps  to  save  this  Union;  and  what  I  forbear,  I  forbear 
because  I  do  not  believe  it  would  help  to  save  the  Union.'' 

GOD    ISENT    DEAD 

Among  those  who  pressed  Mr.  Lincoln  to  a  sudden  and  final  issue 
of  the  slavery  question  was  Frederick  Douglass,  the  distinguished  and 
brilliant  colored  orator. 

Mr.  Douglass  had  called  upon  the  President  and  had  been  admitted. 
The  interview  between  the  representative  of  the  colored  people  and  the 
Chief  Magistrate  of  the  United  States  had  not  exactly  suited  the  man 
who  had  gone  to  Mr.  Lincoln  for  the  purpose  of  urging  him  to  strike  a 
quick  and  decisive  blow;  to  break  the  shackles  of  an  oppressed  race 
and  to  liberate  an  enslaved  people. 


■"4 


^ 


'^^^ 


*x^u:^' 


€^'^ 


ABRAHAM    LINCOLN'S    IDEA    OF    DEMOCRACY. 

A  facsimile  of  the  original  written  in  his  early  Political  Career. 
This  document  was  presented  to  an  intimate  friend  of  the  author  by  Mrs. 
Abraham  Lincoln. 


BUST  OF   ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

This  bust  was  made  from  life  by  Leonard  Volk,  the  well-known  sculptor  of 
Chicago.     The  bust  is  now  among  the  collection  of  relics  belong- 
ing to  the  Lincoln  Log  Cabin  Association. 


STEPHEN   A.    DOUGLAS. 

Lincoln's  greatest  political  opponent. 


«  ♦« 


"wm^Wf'i 


r^T^r^r^wM^.iU  >-'~v-  "'-''*  HKyT'mT^'^^'''^'"''^'^''^     " ''"'  ^' '' 


"0"  '■' ■■■r' 


NATIONAL    LINCOLN    MONUMENT. 

(By  courtesy  of  H.  W.  Fay,  Historical  rortrait  Collector,  DeKalb,  111  ) 

This  Statue,  which  was  unveiled  Oct.  15,  1874,  at  Springfield,  111,,  rep 
resents  Lincoln  as  holding  with  his  left  hand  the  Eman- 
cipation Proclamation  and  in  his  right  hand  the 
pen  with  which  it  had  just  been  written. 


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CONTINUATION  OF  THE  WAR.  245 

He  had  left  the  Executive  Mansion  and  was  just  emerging  from 
the  grounds  when  he  met  Sojourner  Truth,  the  black  prophetess.  The 
unusually  tall  and  gaunt  figure  of  the  giant  Ethiopian  towered  above 
the  stalwart  form  of  Frederick  Douglass,  and  their  greeting  over,  Doug- 
lass said  to  Sojourner,  "Mr.  Lincoln  is  not  inclined  to  heed  the  cries 
of  the  children  in  bondage."  The  uneducated  black  woman  looked  at 
her  talented  colored  brother  and  quietly  remarked,  "Why,  Frederick, 
honey!    God  isent  dead." 

SOJOURNER  TRUTH  AND  THE  PRESIDENT 

A  short  pause,  and  then  the  aged  negress  passed  on  and  entered 
the  President's  house.  Telling  the  custodian  that  she  wished  to  speak 
to  "Uncle  Abe,"  she  seated  herself  and  prepared  to  wait  her  turn. 

The  usher  recognized  that  she  was  no  ordinary  colored  woman,  and 
so  told  the  President,  who  said,  "Send  her  in;  these  everyday  fellows," 
meaning  the  constant  stream  of  office-seekers  that  persistently  sought 
him,  "can  wait." 

The  dignified  and  uncommon  appearing  black  woman  entered  and 
approached  the  President.  He  recognized  her  rare  character  and 
saluted  her  with  an  air  that  conveyed  the  truth  of  the  fact  that  he  was 
meeting  a  superior  woman. 

In  response  to  his  graceful  salutation.  Sojourner  Truth  said,  "May 
God  bless  you,  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  help  you  to  do  His  holy  will." 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  so  impressed  with  this  extraordinary  black  woman 
that  he  continued  their  conversation  for  some  time. 

As  she  was  departing  he  took  from  her  hands  a  small  Testament, 
which  she  was  carrying,  and  wrote  his  name  in  it.  This  graceful  and 
unasked  courtesy  was  greatly  appreciated  by  Sojourner  Truth,  who 
always  exhibited  to  her  many  callers  the  President's  signature,  each 
time  repeating  the  story  of  her  interview  with  Mr.  Lincoln,  as  she  did 
to  me  when  I  saw  her  in  1880.  She  was  then  one  hundred  and  six 
years  old. 

THE    DELEGATION    OF    MINISTERS 

The  pressure  concerning  the  slavery  question  was  getting  to  be 


246  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

almost  unbearable,  but  Mr.  Lincoln  was  holding  on  to  his  convictions, 
and  was  more  determined  than  ever  to  do  nothing  that  could  precipitate 
further  trouble  or  bring  about  more  disastrous  results. 

The  clamor  and  insistence  became  tedious  and  obnoxious,  dele- 
gates from  different  parts  of  the  country  called  upon  him.  Bodies  of 
august  men  came  to  urge  him  to  do  that  which  his  judgment  told  him 
was  not  best.  A  delegation  of  ministers  called  upon  and  almost  de- 
manded that  he  should  act  according  to  their  dictates.  After  listening 
to  their  complaints  and  commands,  he  told  them  that  he  was  extremely 
honored  by  a  call  from  this  delegation  representing  Almighty  God,  and 
he  wished  them  well,  but  he  would  have  to  decline  their  advice. 

And  so  the  pressure  was  put  upon  the  heart-sore  man,  who  was 
more  anxious  than  any  other.  In  the  meantime  he  warned  the  Southern 
leaders,  he  besought  them,  and  advised  them  to  get  out  of  the  way  of  an 
event  that  was  sure  to  come.  Personally  and  through  his  generals  he 
assured  the  people  of  the  South  that  he  meant  them  no  ill.  No  father 
ever  dealt  more  considerately  and  carefully  with  erring  children  than 
he  did  with  those  who  were  determined  to  break  up  the  Government. 

Mr.  Lincoln  had  tried  faithfully,  in  accordance  with  his  oath  of 
office  and  his  repeated  professions,  to  save  the  Union  without  disturb- 
ing a  single  institution  which  lived  under  it. 

Emancipation  was  a  measure  of  ineffable  moment  It  was  a  measure 
which  upon  his  knees  he  had  presented  to  his  Maker. 

It  was  in  mid-summer,  1862,  without  consulting  his  cabinet,  or  giving 
them  any  knowledge  of  what  he  was  doing,  he  prepared  the  original 
draft  of  the  Proclamation. 

THE    PROCLAMATION    OF    EMANCIPATION 

The  Proclamation  was  written,  and  it  was  quite  a  month — the  first 
part  of  August — before  he  called  a  cabinet  meeting.  None  of  the 
members  knew  the  occasion  of  the  meeting,  and  for  some  time  they 
were  unable  to  ascertain,  for  there  was  a  delay. 

Here  was  an  august  body  of  men,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  had  before  him 
a  document  which  he  knew  was  to  perpetuate  his  name  to  all  futurity; 
a  document  which  changed  the  policy  of  the  Government  and  the  course 


'CONTINUATION  OF  THE   WAR.  247 

and  character  of  the  war — which  revolutionized  the  social  institutions 
of  more  than  a  third  of  the  nation,  and  which  involved  Mr.  Lincoln's 
recognition  of  the  will  of  the  Divine  Kuler  of  the  universe. 

It  is  reported  by  Mr.  Lincoln's  biographers  that  instead  of  making 
known  at  once  the  cause  of  calling  his  cabinet  together,  Mr.  Lincoln 
took  from  a  shelf  a  volume  entitled  "Artemus  Ward — His  Book,"  and, 
reading  an  entire  chapter  of  the  humorous  pages,  gave  himself  up  to 
hearty  laughter,  until  some  of  the  dignified  personages  were  far  more 
pained  than  amused. 

This  was  Mr.  Lincoln's  way  of  getting  up  steam ;  getting  ready  for 
the  occasion — and  this  was  a  momentous  occasion. 

A  writer  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  life  says,  "On  closing  the  trifling  volume, 
the  whole  tone  and  manner  of  the  President  changed;  and,  rising  to  a 
grandeur  of  demeanor,  he  announced  to  them  the  object  of  the  meeting. 
He  had  written  a  proclamation  of  emancipation,  and  had  determined 
to  issue  it." 

Mr.  Lincoln  had  not  called  his  cabinet  together  to  ask  their  advice 
on  the  general  question,  because  he  had  settled  that  himself.  He  merely 
wished  "to  inform  them  of  his  purpose  and  to  counsel  with  them  upon 
minor  points." 

The  document  was  received  with  very  little  criticism,  and  was 
heartily  endorsed,  but,  upon  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Seward,  Secretary 
of  State,  the  date  of  this  measure  was  postponed  until  a  somewhat 
later  date  than  Mr.  Lincoln  had  anticipated? 

On  the  twentieth  of  September,  Mr.  Lincoln  held  another  cabinet 
meeting,  at  which  he  declared  that  the  time  for  the  enunciation  of  his 
policy  could  no  longer  be  delayed,  and  on  Monday,  September  22,  the 
proclamation  was  issued.  Though  the  real  issue  of  slavery  involved 
in  the  emancipation  proclamation  was  voiced  by  Abraham  Lincoln  on 
this  September  day,  1862,  yet  from  this  sweeping  measure  he  had  left 
an  opportunity  of  escape. 

It  was  only  a  preliminary  proclamation,  for  it  declared  free  only 
the  slaves  of  such  states  as  should  be  in  rebellion  on  the  1st  of  Janu- 
ary, 1863. 

It  was  Mr.  Lincoln's  idea  only  to  save  the  Union,  and  in  this  prelim- 


us  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

inary  manifesto  he  hoped  that  the  southern  states  would  become  lojal 
in  the  endeavor  to  save  their  pet  institution. 

The  mistaken  people  of  the  South  were  not  inclined  to  profit  by  the 
warning,  and  on  the  1st  of  January,  1863,  the  final  proclamation  of 
emancipation  was  issued,  and  the  great  act  was  complete. 

THE    NORTH    AND    SOUTH 

Both  sides  were  feeling  the  exhaustion  of  war,  for  the  large  armies 
that  had  been  put  into  the  field  were  being  rapidly  decimated  by  death 
and  disease,  and  the  people  at  home  were  speechless  with  agony  and 
despair. 

Brave  men  and  gallant  officers  were  cut  down  by  the  sword,  the 
bayonet  and  the  cannon,  while  others  equally  brave  and  with  willing 
hearts,  though  sure  of  certain  death,  stepped  into  the  gap  and  faced 
the  enemv. 

McCulloch,  Mcintosh,  Gladden,  Ashley,  Griffith,  Williams,  Bohlen, 
Taylor,  Kearney,  Stearns,  Reno,  Mansfield,  Hackleman,  Jackson, 
Terrill,  Bayard  and  Sill,  with  their  hosts  of  faithful  followers,  had 
passed  on  into  pleasant  paths  and  joined  the  silent  and  peaceful  army 
of  which  their  former  comrades  were  now  sanctified  volunteers. 

With  all  this  weight  of  sorrow  upon  him,  the  President  was  well 
nigh  distracted.  He  could  see  no  immediate  release;  there  was  no  way 
of  retreating;  the  war  must  go  on;  the  Union  must  be  restored. 

The  President  received  the  anathemas  of  those  who  disbelieved  that 
his  methods  were  wise;  0f  those  who  were  urging  him  to  acts  that  were 
unwise;  of  those  whose  dear  ones  were  dead,  dying  and  wounded,  and 
thus  they  heaped  upon  him  censure,  vilification,  and  reproach. 

Mr.  Lincoln  had  now  no  hours  of  leisure.  His  work  and  his  anxiety 
were  pressing,  crowding  and  racking  the  man. 

Consultations  with  the  wise  men  of  his  cabinet  were  held  daily, 
plans  were  formulated,  new  methods  were  tried,  armies  were  increased, 
better  and  wiser  service  was  demanded,  personal  inspection  of  the  army 
was  made,  and  the  best  and  truest  thought  of  the  now  wearied  and 
troubled  man  was  given  to  all  conditions  of  complaint,  and  yet  the 
aspect  was  not  very  materially  changed. 


M 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 

THE  PRESIDENTS  KINDNESS 

R.  LINCOLN'S  habits  at  the  White  house  were  as  simple  as  they 
were  in  his  old  Illinois  kome.  He  never  alluded  to  himself  as  the 
President  or  as  occupying  the  Presidency,  and  he  requested  his 
associates  to  call  him  simply  "Lincoln."  "Mr.  President,"  he  said,  "has 
become  very  tiresome  to  me."  He  would  walk  the  streets,  even  at  night, 
unprotected,  talk  with  the  newsboys,  and  in  his  old  way  enjoy  his  West- 
ern friends,  and  when  with  them  always  fell  into  his  old  habits  of  homely 
talk.  The  great  burdens  that  he  was  bearing,  the  terrible  anxieties 
and  perplexities  that  were  overwhelming  him,  seemed  to  vanish  at  these 
times  and  the  peaceful  scenes  of  his  Western  home  would  sweep  across 
his  memory,  bringing  back  all  his  childlike  tenderness,  and  then  he 
would  tell  them  of  his  longing  to  return  to  the  old  life  and  old  labor. 
To  an  old  associate  who  once  said  to  him,  "When  this  cruel  war  is  over, 
the  Union  restored  and  yourself  vindicated,  you  will  be  glad  as  long  as 
you  live,"  it  is  reported  that  the  President  bowed  his  head,  and,  with  a 
look  of  unutterable  sadness,  exclaimed,  "I  shall  never  be  glad  any 
more." 

Mr.  Lincoln  had  been  so  accessible  and  so  generally  a  father  of  his 
people  that  they  came  to  him  with  their  troubles.  Every  man  seemed 
to  think  that  Mr.  Lincoln  could  settle  his  difficulty,  or  provide  for  his 
little  wants,  whatever  they  might  be.  It  was  the  story  of  his  younger 
life  re-enacted.  He  had  always  been  a  reconciler  of  difficulties  between 
men;  and,  while  in  the  Presidential  chair,  he  remarked,  "that  it  seemed 
to  him  as  if  he  was  regarded  as  a  police  justice,  before  whom  all  the 
petty  troubles  of  men  were  brought  for  adjustment," 

A    TRIVIAL    REQUEST 

Some  of  the  matters  that  were  brought  to  him  for  consideration  were 
so  trivial,  when  compared  with  the  momentous  a:ffairs  that  he  handled, 
that  they  seem  really  ludicrous;   for  instance,  an  old  woman  applied 

249 


250  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

to  him  to  have  a  sum  of  money  reserved  from  the  wages  of  a  clerk 
in  one  of  the  departments,  that  he  might  pay  her  his  bill  for  board.  To 
this  class  of  complaints  he  always  had  a  funny  story  to  relate,  and  if 
he  did  not  settle  their  affairs  for  them  he  certainly  could  send  them) 
away  feeling  happy. 

Though  Mr.  Lincoln  continued  to  tell  stories,  they  were  always  told 
for  a  purpose.  The  natural  trait  and  the  fixed  habit  could  not  be  eradi- 
cated. When  he  was  in  the  deepest  trouble  and  anxiety;  when  he  had 
been  subjected  to  humiliation,  he  found  relief  in  this  peculiar  practice. 
He  could  tell  a  quaint  or  humorous  story  in  one  breath,  and  in  the  next 
melt  into  tender  and  sympathetic  words  for  the  distressed, 

INTERVIEWS    WITH    THE    PUBLIC 

The  thousand  and  one  incidents  that  transpired  at  the  White  House 
during  the  years  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  administrations  would  fill  books  and 
books  simply  devoted  to  this  subject. 

The  President's  meetings  with  distinguished  diplomats;  his  intro- 
ductions to  aristocratic  and  accomplished  men  and  women;  his  inter- 
views with  men  of  learning — poets,  scientists,  authors,  clergymen, 
physicians  and  great  generals  have  been  the  topics  of  hundreds  of 
magazine  and  newspaper  articles;  they  have  been  the  groundwork  of 
nearly  all  the  histories  and  biographies  of  Mr.  Lincoln  and  his  adminis- 
tration. 

Foreign  journals  made  vile  and  senseless  caricatures  of  Mr.  Lin- 
coln's long,  thin  face,  and  its  anxious  and  oftentimes  pained  and 
wearied  expressions,  and  to  these  disgusting  pictures  add  further  insult 
to  injury  by  incorporating  foolish  and  false  sayings. 

Every  fop  and  fool  and  aspiring  journalist  in  Washington  felt  at 
liberty  to  make  a  jest  at  the  expense  of  his  "want  of  dignity  and  per- 
sonal awkwardness,"  as  they  pleased  to  call  it. 

He  was  sneered  and  scoffed  at  by  the  aristocracy,  both  at  home  and 
abroad,  who  rated  him  beneath  their  recognition  because  he  did  not 
employ  their  particular  code  of  etiquette.  "His  methods  of  thought, 
expressions  and  action,"  they  said,  "had  not  the  stamp  of  any  old 


THE  PRESIDENTS  KINDNESS.  251 

aristocratic  tradition,"  and  thus  they  labeled  him  a  plebeian  and  put 
upon  him  the  stamp  of  their  disapprobation. 

He  was  criticised  and  censured  and  reviled  by  the  army  of  men 
who  called  themselves  the  arbiters  of  the  nation's  honor  and  destiny, 
and  these,  too,  put  upon  him  the  stamp  of  their  dissatisfaction,  and  the 
leaders  reported  their  interviews  as  consisting  of  funny  stories,  which 
in  their  opinion  proved  him  weak  and  incompetent. 

Military  men  dubbed  him  ignorant  and  incapable  of  understanding 
or  planning  a  war  campaign,  because  he  sometimes  compared  their 
suggestions  and  actions  with  the  small  operations  of  the  Black  Hawk 
War. 

His  cabinet  did  not  altogether  understand  his  peculiar  and  wonder- 
ful nature,  and  some  of  the  members  had  the  weakness  to  accuse  the 
President  of  levity. 

To  all  of  this  class  of  incidents  and  anecdotes  I  have  no  contem- 
plation of  going  into  detail.  It  is  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  everyday  life  with 
his  family  and  his  intercourse  with  the  common  people  that  we  have 
to  do;  the  private  soldier,  sick  and  wounded  and  discouraged,  that 
came  to  him  for  comfort  and  succor  and  pardon;  the  agonized  wife 
and  mother  who  besought  him  to  end  the  carnage  and  slaughter  of 
the  unholy  war.  To  the  distressed  and  disturbed  men  and  women  of 
the  land,  who  sought  him  in  their  hours  of  disquiet  and  unrest  and 
begged  him  to  give  them  some  sort  of  comforting  assurance,  these  are 
the  incidents  and  pathetic  interviews  that  should  interest  every  man 
and  woman,  every  boy  and  girl,  and  inspire  a  desire  to  read  and  reread 
them;  that  should  enlist  sympathy  and  love  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  the 
man  who  for  four  long  weary  years  bore  censure  and  criticism  and  yet 
repined  not, 

EVERYDAY    FOLKS 

It  was  the  constant  intimacy,  from  his  infancy  till  the  day  of  his 
death,  with  the  world  of  "everyday  folks"  that  developed  in  Mr.  Linco/u 
a  strong  sympathy  for  their  individual  rights  and  a  knowledge  of  their 
recognition  of  general  truth. 


252  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

He  recognized  their  unfailing  sense  of  justice,  and  during  his  entire 
occupancy  of  the  presidential  chair  he  relied  upon  the  popular  feeling 
and  expression  of  the  common  people,  to  a  great  extent,  for  his  guid- 
ance. He  was  a  sign  upon  the  earth — ^the  sign  and  the  leader  of  a  new 
order  of  events,  in  which  the  power  and  prestige  should  be  in  the  hands 
of  the  plain,  simple,  common  people,  and  not  in  those  of  the  privileged 
order. 

Mr.  Lincoln  believed,  as  all  other  wise  people  do,  that  the  common 
people — ^the  masses — are  the  brawn  and  brain  of  a  great  common- 
wealth, and  when  this  class  of  humanity  let  go  of  the  rudder  or  indiffer- 
ently steer  public  affairs,  then  the  country  must  look  for  a  general 
decline. 

Lower  the  moral  standard  of  the  common  people  and  the  nation 
will  die  and  rot,  and  its  eternal  cesspool  is  forever  sending  out  its  in- 
fection to  other  weak  and  degenerate  communities.  But  keep  up  the 
moral  standard  of  the  common  people  and  the  nation  will  rise  to 
sublimest  heights,  sending  forth  healing  rays  of  divine  goodness  and 
glorious  power;  a  beacon  light  inviting  all  other  nations  to  bathe  in 
its  healthful  effulgence. 

THE    PARDON 

His  sympathy  for  the  young  soldier's  peccadillos  was  marked  in  the 
extreme,  and  these  or  even  graver  acts  he  could  forgive  and  forget. 

It  is  related  that  a  friend  from  Illinois  called  to  plead  for  the  life 
of  a  soldier  boy,  a  soldier  who  was  on  his  way  with  his  regiment 
through  Washington,  and,  falling  out  of  the  ranks,  entered  a  drinking 
saloon,  was  overcome  with  liquor,  and  failed  to  join  his  regiment  before 
it  left  the  city.  He  was  arrested  for  desertion,  and  sentenced  to  be 
shot. 

The  President  heard  the  explanation  of  the  case,  and  remarked, 
"Well,  I  think  the  boy  can  do  us  more  good  above  ground  than  under 
the  ground,"  and  without  further  speech  wrote  the  pardon. 

THE    PRESIDENT'S    PHOTOGRAPH 

Mr.  Lincoln  could  not  endure  to  employ  the  rigor  of  the  law  in  regard 


WILLIAM    H. 

Secretary  of  State  to  Lincoln.     The  above  is  a 

Dhotograph. 


SEWARD. 

reproduction  of  the  Seward's  last 


SALMON    P.    CHASE. 

Secretary  of  the  treasury  in  Lincoln's  cabinet. 


THE  PRESIDENTS  KINDNESS,  253 

to  desertion.  He  always  tried  to  find  some  excuse  for  the  accused,  and 
if  there  were  any  extenuating  circumstances  he  took  advantage  of 
them. 

There  are  several  stories  related  in  regard  to  this  peculiar  action  of 
Mr.  Lincoln  that,  though  hackneyed,  are  good  enough  to  be  rehearsed 
again.  Mr.  Lincoln  had  just  written  a  pardon  for  a  young  man  who 
had  been  sentenced  to  be  shot  for  sleeping  at  his  post,  w^hile  on  guard, 
and  when  questioned  why  he  pardoned  him,  he  said,  "It  was  not  to  be 
wondered  at  that  the  lad  went  to  sleep,  for  he  was  raised  on  a  farm,  and 
was  probably  in  the  habit  of  going  to  bed  at  dark.  I  cannot  consent 
to  shoot  him  for  such  an  act.  I  could  not  think  of  going  into  eternity 
with  the  blood  of  the  poor  young  man  on  my  head." 

It  is  further  related  that  the  dead  body  of  this  same  young  lad  was 
found  among  the  slain  on  the  field  of  Fredericksburg,  wearing  next  to 
his  heart  a  photograph  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  beneath  which  was  written 
"God  bless  President  Lincoln." 

I    WON'T    DO    IT 

'An  army  officer  also  relates  the  following,  which  is  also  told  to 
show  how  loth  the  President  was  to  inflict  punishment  or  pain.  He 
says,  "The  first  week  of  my  command,  there  were  twenty-four  deserters 
sentenced  by  court-martial  to  be  shot,  and  the  warrants  for 
their  executions  were  sent  to  the  President  to  be  signed.  He  refused. 
I  went  to  Washington  and  had  an  interview.  I  said,  ^Mr.  President, 
unless  these  men  are  made  an  example  of,  the  army  itself  is  in  danger. 
Mercy  to  the  few  is  cruelty  to  the  many.'  He  replied,  *Mr.  General, 
there  are  already  too  many  weeping  widows  in  the  United  States.  For 
God's  sake,  don't  ask  me  to  add  to  the  number,  for  I  won't  do  it.' " 

TOO  BUSY  TO  SEE  BOYS 

A  little  drummer  boy  came  to  the  White  House  one  day  and  asked 
to  see  the  President,  but  was  told  by  the  usher  that  Mr.  Lincoln  was 
"too  busy  to  see  boys."  Whereupon  the  lad  went  out  and  sat  down 
at  the  gate,  not  knowing  what  to  do. 

The  President  some  time  later  passed  out  of  the  grounds  about  the 


254  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

Executive  Mansion  at  the  same  gate,  and  there  found  the  boy  looking 
very  pale  and  appearing  to  be  faint  and  feeble. 

Suspecting  that  he  might  have  called  to  see  him  and  had  been 
refused  admittance,  for  the  purpose  of  learning  the  truth  a  question 
was  propounded,  and  the  little  fellow  in  response  said,  "Yes,  sir;  I 
wanted  to  see  you,  but  the  man  at  the  door  said  you  were  too  busy." 

The  President  questioned  the  boy  still  further  and  discovered  that 
the  colonel  of  his  regiment  had  become  angry  with  him  and  turned 
him  off;  also  that  the  boy  had  been  quite  sick  and  that  the  surgeon 
at  the  hospital  had  discharged  him  before  he  was  able  to  go  about, 
much  less  do  any  work. 

The  President  told  the  little  drummer  boy  to  go  home  to  his  parents, 
but  this  advice  brought  out  the  facts  that  the  boy,  who  was  so  very  small 
and  frail  that  he  seemed  a  mere  child,  had  no  home,  no  parents,  and  in 
fact  no  one  that  he  could  go  to  for  succor. 

Mr.  Lincoln  took  from  his  pocket  a  card  and  wrote  upon  it.  It  was 
directed  to  a  high  official,  and  contained  the  following  message,  "In- 
terest yourself  in  the  bearer  and  find  a  place  for  him."  Then  putting 
some  money  into  the  boy's  hand  he  bade  him  go  at  once. 

Immediate  assistance  was  rendered,  and  later,  work  was  given  to 
the  fully  recovered  boy.  To-day  he  is  an  efficient  and  valuable  clerk  in 
the  government  employ — a  position  he  has  held  since  the  year  eighteen 
hundred  and  sixty-eight. 

A    BABY'S    INFLUENCE 

The  soldier  and  his  sorrows  were  ever  Mr.  Lincoln's  care  and  solici- 
tude. He  could  not  refuse  a  request  or  demand  that  came  from  them 
in  any  way,  and  to  the  mothers  of  the  "boys  in  blue"  he  could  not 
withstand  their  pleadings.  If  they  were  seeking  their  boy's  release 
he  must  grant  it. 

A  very  pathetic  story  was  told  me  of  a  woman  who  came  to  the 
White  House  to  ask  for  her  young  son's  release,  on  the  grounds  that 
she  needed  his  personal  care  and  support,  the  father  having  been  killed 
in  battle  some  months  previous,  while  she  herself  was  ill  and  had  a 
young  babe  which  was  born  after  her  husband's  death. 


THE  PRESIDENTS  KINDNESS.  255 

The  woman  had  called  at  the  White  House  three  days  in  succession, 
and  was  still  unable  to  see  the  President.  Crowds  of  people,  who  un- 
doubtedly were  bent  on  similar  errands,  thronged  the  outer  rooms. 

The  hot,  sultry  afternoon  was  drawing  to  a  close,  and  the  usher 
had  told  her  that  in  all  probability  she  would  have  to  come  again  the 
next  day.  This  information  completely  unnerved  her,  the  tears  coursed 
down  her  cheeks,  and  when  she  attempted  to  walk  she  staggered  like 
a  drunken  woman.  The  baby,  who  had  been  fretful  for  some  time,  set 
up  a  pitiful  wail,  thus  adding  to  her  further  discomfort. 

The  child's  moans  caught  Mr.  Lincoln's  attention,  and  he  sent  a 
messenger  to  inquire  into  the  matter.  The  servant  investigated,  re- 
turned to  the  office  and  reported.  He  was  immediately  dispatched 
again  with  an  order  requesting  the  woman  to  come  in  at  once.  Faint 
and  trembling  she  went  into  the  President's  office.  Mr.  Lincoln, 
upon  witnessing  the  distress  of  the  mother  and  child,  arose,  gently 
assisted  the  woman  to  an  easy  chair,  and  took  the  child  in  his  strong 
arms. 

He  gave  his  entire  attention  to  the  baby,  and  under  his  soothing 
influence  the  child  soon  fell  asleep.  Still  holding  the  infant,  Mr.  Lin- 
coln turned  to  the  mother  and  said,  "My  good  woman,  what  can  I  do 
for  you?" 

Her  story  was  hastily  and  tearfully  told.  Having  gathered  all  neces- 
sary information,  a  letter  was  written  to  the  young  man's  commanding 
officer,  demanding  the  soldier's  release,  and  then  turning  to  the  woman 
Mr.  Lincoln  said,  "I  will  forward  this  immediately." 

The  woman  had  become  so  intensely  excited  that  now  her  nervous- 
ness caused  her  to  anticipate  all  sorts  of  delays,  and  she  begged 
to  be  allowed  to  carry  the  message  herself.  As  usual  Mr.  Lincoln  could 
not  say  nay  to  woman's  pleading,  and  he  gave  orders  to  have  her 
properly  equipped  with  the  needed  documents.  Thus  the  mother  be- 
came the  bearer  of  her  son's  release. 

The  woman  took  her  baby  from  the  President  and  attempted  to 
thank  him,  but  he  stopped  her,  and  pointing  to  the  infant  said,  "The 
little  one  did  it." 


256  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

TAD    AND    HIS    FATHER 

During  the  campaign  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  the  vicinity 
of  Washington,  Mr.  Lincoln  made  frequent  visits  to  the  front. 

One  of  these  occasions  was  after  a  desperate  fight  on  the  Peninsula, 
and  the  dead  and  dying  were  being  carried  from  the  battlefield.  As 
stretcher  after  stretcher  was  passed  the  moans  of  the  dying  were  dis- 
tinctly heard.  The  wounded  were  crying  out  in  their  agony.  Lips, 
parched  and  dry,  could  scarcely  utter  the  single  word  water.  Hands 
were  clasped  in  prayer;  eyes  were  strained  for  a  last  farewell,  and 
whispered  sounds  came  floating  along  on  the  evening  breeze.  Mother, 
sister,  wife  and  sweetheart  were  called  in  vain. 

Mr.  Lincoln  bore  it  as  long  as  he  could.  His  face  was  ashy  white, 
and  he  staggered  with  the  weight  of  horror  that  was  upon  him. 

A  friend  who  accompanied  the  President  told  me  that  he  leaned 
upon  him  heavily.  Then  bursting  into  tears,  exclaimed,  "My  God,  how 
much  longer  must  this  slaughter  go  on?  I  cannot  endure  it.  I  cannot 
endure  it.    My  heart  is  breaking." 

The  President  was  completely  overcome,  and  immediately  left  the 
battlefield.  Not  a  word  was  spoken  by  either  until  they  parted  an  hour 
later,  when  he  said,  "I  can  never  be  glad  again.'' 

Washington  became  one  great  hospital  of  wounded  soldiers,  and 
these  places,  so  full  of  human  agony,  were  daily  inspected  by  the  Presi- 
dent. He  visited  them  all.  The  sanitary  conditions  were  most  carefully 
looked  into,  and  the  sick  and  wounded  were  greeted,  each  one  separ- 
ately, with  some  personal  message.  He  shook  hands  with  those  who 
were  well  enough,  and  to  those  who  were  desperately  ill  he  smoothed 
the  fevered  brow,  brushed  aside  the  damp  locks  or  tenderly  preiBsed 
the  limp  hand,  bidding  each  one  to  take  courage  and  try  to  live.  Those 
whom  he  knew  could  not  recover  he  bade  be  brave,  thanked  them 
for  their  service,  and  told  them  that  to  die  for  one's  country  was  the 
greatest  privilege  that  could  come  to  man. 

In  these  visits  to  the  camps  and  hospitals  Tad  invariably  accom^ 
panied  the  President.  He  was  his  father's  comrade  and  companion, 
and  his  presence  among  the  homesick  and  wounded  soldiers  was  aa 


THE  PRESIDENTS  KINDNESS,  2b7 

welcome  as  that  of  his  father's.  The  boy  was  also  a  great  favorite  with 
the  inmates  and  visitors  at  the  White  House,  and  it  is  said  by  those 
who  had  daily  access  to  the  grounds  and  the  house  that  Tad  was  the 
only  bright  figure  in  the  otherwise  tragic  picture. 

He  possessed  something  of  his  father's  wit  and  humor,  and  this, 
coupled  with  a  vivacious  spirit,  made  him  an  unusually  bright  and 
interesting  child.  Both  young  and  old,  men  and  women,  soldier  and 
civilian,  paid  homage  to  Tad  Lincoln. 

Those  who  witnessed  the  boy's  grief  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death 
describe  it  as  actually  uncontrollable,  and  it  is  said  that  the  few  after 
years  of  his  life  were  tinged  with  the  horror  of  that  tragic  death. 

Tad  Lincoln  joined  his  father  some  years  later,  and  thus  the  love 
and  companionship  established  on  earth  were  renewed  and  will  con- 
tinue throughout  eternity. 

HALLO    ABE.    HOW    ARE    YE? 

It  was  the  custom  of  Mr.  Lincoln  during  the  years  1862,  ^63  and  '64 
to  open  once  a  week  the  doors  of  his  office  and  let  each  caller  approach 
him  in  turn. 

Mr.  Lincoln  said,  "These  brief  interviews,  stripped  of  even  the  sem- 
blance of  ceremony,  give  me  a  better  insight  into  the  real  character 
of  the  person  and  his  true  reason  for  seeking  one." 

On  these  occasions  the  most  curious,  amusing  and  strange  things 
happened.  Upon  one  of  these  eventful  days  an  old  friend  from  Illinois 
stood  in  line  for  almost  an  hour.  At  last  he  was  so  near  to  the  Presi- 
dent that  his  voice  could  reach  him,  and  calling  out  to  his  old  associate, 
he  startled  every  one  by  exclaiming,  "Hallo  Abe;  how  are  ye?  I'm  in 
line  and  hev  come  for  an  orfice  too." 

Mr.  Lincoln  singled  out  the  man  who  possessed  the  stentorian  voice, 
and  recognizing  a  particularly  old  friend  and  one  whose  wife  had  be- 
friended him  in  a  peculiarly  trying  time,  the  President  responded  to 
his  greeting  in  a  cordial  manner,  and  told  him  "to  hang  onto  himself 
and  not  to  kick  the  traces.    Keep  in  line  and  you'll  soon  get  here." 

They  met  and  shook  hands  with  the  old  fervor  and  renewed  their 
friendship. 


258  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

His  "New  Salem"  friend  began  at  once  to  state  his  desire,  but  Mr. 
Lincoln  quieted  him  by  sending  him  away  with  a  friend,  who  should 
look  after  him  until  he  was  at  liberty  to  give  him  more  attention. 

The  informal  reception  over,  Mr.  Lincoln  sent  for  his  old  friend,  and 
after  a  more  personal  greeting  the  man  began  to  urge  his  claims. 

After  having  given  him  some  good  advice,  Mr.  Lincoln  kindly  told 
his  old  associate  that  he  was  incapable  of  holding  any  such  position 
as  he  had  asked  for.  The  disappointment  that  the  Illinois  friend  felt 
was  plainly  shown,  and  with  a  perceptible  tremor  in  his  voice  he  said, 
"Martha's  dead,  the  gal  is  married,  and  Fve  guv  Jim  the  forty."  Then 
looking  at  Mr.  Lincoln  he  came  a  little  nearer  and  almost  whispered, 
"I  knowed  I  wasent  eddlcated  enough  to  git  the  place,  but  I  kinder 
want  to  stay  where  I  ken  see  Abe  Lincoln." 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  much  affected  by  this  homely  display  of  affection. 
The  friend  was  invited  to  stay  at  the  White  House  for  a  few  days,  when 
he  was  assigned  to  some  easy  and  unimportant  work  in  the  capitol 
grounds. 

A  book  could  be  filled  with  Mr.  Lincoln's  acts  of  kindness.  He  made 
no  show  of  doing.  What  he  did  and  what  he  said  was  just  the  thing  to 
do  or  just  the  thing  to  say. 

There  were  no  high-sounding  words  in  his  advice  or  sympathy;  there 
was  no  ostentation  in  his  proffered  aid  or  unrequited  service,  and  there 
was  no  announcement  of  his  gifts  to  charity. 

It  was  as  easy  for  Abraham  Lincoln  to  give  and  to  do  and  to  make 
happy  the  hearts  of  the  afflicted  and  oppressed  as  it  is  for  the  sun  to 
shine,  and  make  warm  and  beautiful  the  earth. 

Charity,  pity,  mercy,  sympathy,  these  were  virtues  that  reigned  at 
the  White  House  during  Mr.  Lincoln's  occupancy  of  it. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

THE  WAR  CONTINUES 

THE  war  still  continued,  the  horrors  grew  apace  and  another  sad 
New  Year  was  ushered  in.  It  was  a  wretched  beginning,  re- 
verses were  again  demanding  more  men,  another  call  for  troops 
was  made,  and  the  flower  of  the  country  responded.  There  was  no 
abating  of  patriotic  desire;  there  was  no  delay;  the  swift-winged  mes- 
sengers answered  the  bugle's  call;  platoon  after  platoon  filed  by  and 
the  dissolving  panorama  of  blue  faded  away  toward  the  gray  mist  of 
the  distant  horizon. 

The  national  and  military  affairs  of  1863  were  momentous;  nine  hun- 
dred millions  of  dollars  had  been  borrowed,  and  the  United  States  issued 
four  hundred  millions  in  treasury  notes  bearing  interest  and  a  hundred 
and  fifty  millions  without  interest;  and  now,  in  addition  to'the  calamity 
of  war,  the  nation  was  burdened  with  debt, — a  debt  so  great  that  it 
seemed  well  nigh  impossible  to  ever  lift  it. 

MAGNITUDE    OF    REBELLION 

When  Congress  adjourned,  it  left  the  President  strong  in  power  and 
with  unquestioned  means  necessary  for  the  successful  prosecution  of 
the  war.  He  had  financial  support,  power  to  arrest  and  hold  suspicious 
persons,  and  the  authority  to  call  out  the  State  militia. 

The  military  events  of  the  year  were  stupendous,  and  the  people 
had  come  to  realize  that  the  heretofore  prosperous  and  peaceful  nation 
was  steeped  in  blood  and  carnage.  The  list  of  dead  was  long  and  it  was 
terrible.     All  other  wars  sank  into  insignificance. 

The  magnitude  of  the  rebellion  was  almost  beyond  belief;  the  area 
of  territory  covered  by  the  armies  was  tremendous,  and  the  loss  of 
human  life  incomparable  with  that  of  any  other  nation  while  engaged 
in  warfare. 

Eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-three  was  the  year  sii  battles.     The 

259 


26©  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

heavens  reverSerated  with  the  roar  of  cannon  and  the  discharge  of 
musketry.  The  air  was  filled  with  the  lament  of  the  sick,  the  wail 
of  the  wounded,  and  the  moan  of  the  dying.  The  very  foundations  of 
the  earth  trembled  with  the  heavy  and  irregular  tread  of  the  tired  and 
exhausted  campaigners,  the  double-quick  of  the  excited  and  eager 
battlemen,  and  the  slow  and  measured  step  of  the  funeral  march.  It 
was  the  tramp,  tramp  of  the  soldier  host. 

BATTLE    OF    GETTYSBURG 

The  battle  of  Gettysburg  had  been  fought, — ^that  fearful  battle,  that 
raged  with  terrific  energy  for  three  days.  That  battle  will  pass  into 
history  as  the  most  horrible  massacre  and  slaughter  that  human  souls 
have  ever  endured  and  that  human  eyes  have  ever  looked  upon.  More 
than  sixteen  thousand  were  killed  and  wounded  on  the  Union  side, 
while  the  loss  to  the  Confederate  forces  was  much  greater. 

The  battle  of  Gettysburg  will  live  forever.  The  blood  that  mois- 
tened that  earth  enriches  and  brings  to  perfection  the  beautiful  flowers 
that  grow  thereon;  the  mists  that  hang  over  it  pulsate  with  an  agony 
yet  untold;  the  skies  that  bend  over  it  are  bluer  than  elsewhere;  the 
clouds  that  float  softly  across  it  discharge  their  pure  waters  in  pitying 
showers,  and  the  sun  sheds  upon  it  his  warm  and  gentle  rays  in  tender 
benediction. 

On  the  nineteenth  day  of  November  of  the  same  year,  the  battlefield 
was  dedicated  to  the  memory  of  the  slain. 

The  camp  of  the  dead  was  put  in  order,  and  above  the  silent  bivouac, 
where  the  blue  and  the  gray  had  gone  down  in  mortal  affray,  Abraham 
Lincoln  dedicated  the  sacred  spot  with  his  immortal  words: 

LINCOLN'S    IMMORTAL    WORDS 

"Fourscore  and  seven  years  ago  our  fathers  brought  forth  upon  this 
continent  a  new  nation,  conceived  in  liberty,  and  dedicated  to  the  propo- 
sition that  all  men  are  created  equal.  Now  we  are  engaged  in  a  great 
civil  war,  testing  whether  that  nation,  or  any  nation  so  conceived  and 
so  dedicated,  can  long  endure.  We  are  met  on  a  great  battlefield  of 
that  war.    We  have  come  to  dedicate  a  portion  of  that  field  as  a  final 


THE  WAR  CONTINUES.  261 

resting-place  for  those  who  here  gave  their  lives  that  that  nation  might 
live.  It  is  altogether  fitting  and  proper  that  we  should  do  this.  But 
in  a  larger  sense  we  cannot  dedicate,  we  cannot  consecrate,  we  cannot 
hallow  this  ground.  The  brave  men,  living  and  dead,  who  struggled 
here  have  consecrated  it  far  above  our  power  to  add  or  detract.  The 
world  will  little  note,  nor  long  remember,  what  we  say  here;  but  it  can 
never  forget  what  they  did  here.  It  is  for  us,  the  living,  rather  to  be 
dedicated  here  to  the  unfinished  work  which  they  who  fought  here 
have  thus  far  so  nobly  advanced.  It  is  rather  for  us  to  be  here  dedi- 
cated to  the  great  task  remaining  before  us,  that  from  these  honored 
dead  we  take  increased  devotion  to  that  cause  for  which  they  gave  the 
last  full  measure  of  devotion;  that  we  here  highly  resolve  that  these 
dead  shall  not  have  died  in  vain;  that  this  nation,  under  God,  shall 
have  a  new  birth  of  freedom,  and  that  the  government  of  the  people, 
by  the  people,  and  for  the  people  shall  not  perish  from  the  earth." 

RIGHT    VERSUS    WRONQ 

Upon  the  Fourth  of  July,  the  day  after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg, 
the  President  sent  the  news  flashing  over  the  country,  that  the  Union 
army  had  "covered  itself  with  glory,"  and  in  the  victory  at  Gettysburg 
there  was  a  "promise  of  great  success  to  the  cause  of  the  Union." 

Other  news  of  great  importance  also  on  that  day  went  rushing 
across  the  country,  carried  by  the  electric  messenger  into  every  city 
and  every  hamlet.  The  capture  of  Vicksburg,  the  stronghold  of  the 
Mississippi  River,  by  General  Grant,  was  announced,  and  now  the 
hearts  of  the  loyal  people  took  on  hope  and  expectancy.  The  Confed- 
eracy was  cut  in  twain,  and  from  this  hour  its  cause  was  doomed. 

Poor,  unhappy  South,  with  its  load  of  sorrow  and  agony,  with  its 
beautiful  homes  destroyed,  with  its  multitudes  of  weeping  mothers 
and  wailing  children;  with  its  brave  hearts  still  struggling  cour- 
ageously, but  knowing,  full  well,  that  further  death  and  complete 
disaster  were  before  them. 

This  terrible  year  was  drawing  to  its  close,  and  the  national  Thanks- 
giving day   was  approaching.    Mr.   Lincoln's  proclamation  for  the 


262  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

p^bservance  of  the  day  breathed  a  tender  pity  for  those  bereft  and  a  sad 
gladness  for  those  who  rejoiced. 

THE    ROLL    CALL 

The  year  and  its  terrible  record  had  passed  and  the  brave  and  gallant 
dead  re-formed  into  silent  ranks  and  answered  the  roll-call : 

Berry,  Whipple,  Eeynolds,  Weed,  Zook,  Farnsworth,  Garnett, 
Blakesdale,  Semmes,  Lyttle,  Preston,  Smith,  Deshler,  Helm  and  Malone. 

For  nearly  four  years  the  most  unholy  war  had  been  waged;  men 
were  drawn  up  in  battle  array,  while  cannon  thundered  their  awful 
deadly  missiles;  the  blue  and  the  gray  went  down  in  slaughtered  heaps; 
the  ranks  were  thinned,  and  still  the  awful  holocaust  went  on.  "Uncle 
Abe''  continued  to  call  for  more  "defenders  of  the  true  faith,"  and  his 
call  was  answered  by  the  tramp,  tramp  of  grim  warriors  shouting  their 
battle-song,  "We  are  coming,  Father  Abraham,  six  hundred  thousand 
more." 

Mothers  sent  their  precious  sons,  wives  their  devoted  husbands,  and 
children  gave  up  their  loving  fathers.  But  the  struggle  went  on,  the 
nation  wept,  and  the  tender  pity  and  unbounded  love  of  the  President's 
great  heart  went  out  and  fell  like  a  sweet  benediction  upon  his  sorrow- 
ing people. 


CHAPTER   XXXVI. 

SECOND  PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTION 

AFTER  four  years  of  mighty  events  and  wonderful  changes,  the 
year  of  the  Presidential  election  had  come  again.  During  the 
four  years  of  administration,  Mr.  Lincoln  had  made  many  enemies 
among  those  who  had  supported  him  originally.  Some  thought  he  had 
been  too  slow,  some  said  he  was  too  severe,  others  that  he  had  not  been 
slow  enough,  while  many  criticised  or  denounced  the  President  for  is- 
suing the  Etnancipation  Proclamation.  Mr.  Lincoln  himself  said  in 
alluding  to  it,  'What  I  did,  I  did  after  a  very  full  deliberation,  and  under 
a  heavy  and  solemn  responsibility.  I  can  only  trust  in  God,  I  have 
made  no  mistake." 

The  country  was  feeling  the  terrible  distress  of  the  war.  Call  after 
call  had  been  made  for  more  men,  taxation  was  burdening  every  man, 
and  still  no  end  appeared.  There  were  many  leaders  who  either 
believed  or  made  themselves  believe  that  a  change  of  administration 
was  necessary  to  the  wellbeing  of  the  nation  and  so  announced  them- 
selves, but  the  masses  of  the  people  were  in  favor  of  Mr.  Lincoln.  His 
modest  character  and  honest  purpose  had  won  their  confidence.  Though 
the  future  looked  dark,  the  people  were  satisfied  that  Mr.  Lincoln's  war 
policy  was  right  and  if  continued  would  bring  ultimate  success. 

A    WISE    CONCLUSION 

It  had  never  seemed  to  be  Mr.  Lincoln's  aim  during  his  Presidential 
life  to  look  far  ahead,  and  if  he  did  or  planned  in  his  own  mind  a  re- 
election, he  was  as  silent  as  the  Sphinx,  and  gave  no  intimation  of 
further  desire  than  the  present  moment. 

He  had  done  his  best,  and  was  entitled  to  the  full  approval  of  his 
countrymen;  then  why  should  he  not  receive  their  appreciation,  and 
why  should  they  not  still  trust  him?  It  is  a  pleasant  thought  to  harbor, 
that  one  shall  receive  the  plaudits  of  a  great  commonwealth,  and 
Abraham  Lincoln  was  human. 

263 


264  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

When  he  was  approached  by  the  leaders  of  the  party  in  regard  to 
his  inclination  concerning  a  second  term  it  is  true  that  he  said,  "If 
nominated  and  elected  I  shall  be  grateful  to  my  friends;  but  the  in- 
terests of  the  country  must  always  be  first  considered."  Then  with 
characteristic  frankness  and  humor  he  suddenly  wheeled  about  and 
faced  the  committee  with  an  apparently  new  and  unthought  of  conclu- 
sion. The  gentlemen  were  struck  with  the  evident  wisdom  of  his  state- 
ment, and  Mr.  Lincoln's  manner  was  so  irresistibly  quaint  when  he  said, 
"It  is  not  best  to  swap  horses  while  crossing  a  stream,"  that  they  quickly 
withdrew  and  began  operations  upon  Mr.  Lincoln's  suggestions. 

UNJUST    CENSURE 

The  more  thoughtful  and  conscientious  men  were  reluctant  to 
change  leaders  and  rulers,  and  so  the  verdict  of  the  wise  men  prevailed 
and  Mr.  Lincoln  was  again  chosen  the  Presidential  candidate.  For 
some  unaccountable  reason,  however,  though  the  campaign  was  opened 
with  perfect  confidence  concerning  the  results,  yet  a  feeling  of  uncer- 
tainty and  distrust  came  over  many  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  former  stanch 
admirers — even  the  press  attacked  him.  Attacks  from  either  personal 
enemies  or  the  public  press  did  not  affect  Mr.  Lincoln.  It  is  said  by 
many  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  biographers  "that  he  did  not  read  the  newspaper 
attacks  and  therefore  many  failed  in  their  object  In  abusing  and  vilify- 
ing the  President  by  his  refusal  to  read  the  scurrilous  attacks." 

It  Is  related  by  an  Intimate  friend  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  that  after  a  par- 
ticularly abusive  and  offensive  attack  had  been  made  upon  the  Presi- 
dent, this  friend  alluded  to  It,  expressing  his  indignation  over  the  affair. 
The  President  said  to  his  friend,  "That  matter  troubles  me  very  little. 
Indeed  I  feel  a  good  deal  about  It  as  the  old  man  did  about  his  cheese, 
when  his  very  smart  boy  found,  by  the  aid  of  a  microscope,  that  it  was 
full  of  maggots.  'Oh,  father,'  exclaimed  the  boy,  'how  can  you  eat  that 
stuff?  Just  look  In  here,  and  see  'em  wriggle!'  The  old  man  took 
another  mouthful,  and,  putting  his  teeth  Into  It,  replied  grimly:  'Let 
'em  wriggle!'" 

To  the  criticism  directed  against  him  relating  to  his  disregard  of 
peace  propositions,  and  when  leading  men  wrote  to  him  that  "a  bleed- 


SECOND  PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTION.  265 

ing,  bankrupt,  almost  dying  country,  was  shuddering  at  the  prospect  of 
further  wholesale  devastations  and  of  new  rivers  of  blood  and  that  he 
and  his  supporters  did  not  improve  opportunities  to  secure  peace,*'  Mr. 
Lincoln  replied:  "I  should  be  false  to  my  oath  and  to  the  American 
people  who  have  poured  out  life  and  treasure  to  save  the  nation,  faith- 
less to  an  oppressed  race  to  whom  emancipation  has  been  pledged,  if 
I  entertain  any  proposition  not  based  upon  sectional  unity  and  freedomi 
to  the  blacks." 

To  all  communications  sent  to  him,  charging  him  with  lack  of  action 
or  disregard  of  opportunity,  he  invariably  replied:  "If  any  person  can 
be  found,  anywhere,  professing  to  have  any  proposition  of  Jefferson 
Davis,  in  writing,  embracing  the  restoration  of  the  Union  and  abandon- 
ment of  slavery,  whatever  else  it  embraces,  say  to  him  that  he  may 
come  to  me." 

There  were  so  many  unpleasant  incidents  connected  with  the  Presi- 
dential canvass  that  Mr.  Lincoln's  friends  urged  him  not  to  issue 
another  call  for  men  until  after  the  election  had  taken  place,  but  his 
call  for  six  hundred  thousand  men  went  out  just  the  same,  and  to  his 
cowardly  advisers  he  said,  "The  men  are  needed,  it  is  my  duty  to  call 
for  them,  and  I  shall  call  them,  whatever  the  effect  may  be  upon  my 
election." 

VOICE    OF    THE    PEOPLE 

The  important  and  significant  day  arrived,  and  Abraham  Lincoln 
was  again  the  people's  choice  by  an  overwhelming  majority. 

It  was  an  election  that  demonstrated  the  abiding  confidence  in  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  his  administration.  Every  state  but  three — New  Jersey, 
Delaware  and  Kentucky — gave  him  its  electoral  vote.  It  was  in  fact 
almost  an  election  by  acclamation.  "While  the  votes  were  being 
counted  in  New  York  city  late  at  night,"  says  Harriet  Beecher  Stowe, 
"and  this  great  victory  became  apparent,  the  vast  surging  assembly, 
at  the  motion  of  one  individual,  uncovered  their  heads  and  sang  a 
solemn  Doxology — an  affecting  incident,  which  goes  far  to  show  what 
sort  of  feelings  lay  at  the  bottom  of  this  vast  movement,  and  how  pro- 


26G  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

foundly  the  people  felt  that  this  re-election  of  Lincoln  was  a  vital  step 
in  their  onward  progress." 

Mr.  Lincoln  would  have  been  more  than  mortal  not  to  have  been 
gratified  with  the  result.  To  a  company  of  gentlemen  who  called  upon 
him  on  the  night  of  the  election  to  tender  him  their  congratulations,  he 
said:  "I  am  thankful  to  God  for  this  approval  of  the  people;  but,  while 
I  am  deeply  grateful  for  this  mark  of  their  confidence  in  me,  if  I  know 
my  heart,  my  gratitude  is  free  from  any  taint  of  personal  triumph. 
*  *  *  I  give  thanks  to  the  Almighty  for  this  evidence  of  the  people's 
resolution  to  stand  by  free  government  and  the  rights  of  humanity.'^ 

CLOSE    OF    THE    WAR 

The  military  aiffairs  of  1864  were  of  tremendous  import  and  the 
war  was  hastening  to  a  momentous  crisis.  With  the  advent  of  the 
next  year  the  beginning  of  the  end  was  seen.  General  Sherman  was 
marching  to  the  sea,  the  rebel  hordes  were  fleeing  before  his  advancing 
army,  fleeing  northward,  where  they  must  inevitably  meet  Grant's  hosts 
who  were  pressing  toward  the  Confederate  capitol.  The  grand  but 
awful  campaign  was  drawing  to  a  close.  Early  in  April,  Lee,  with  his 
shattered  ranks,  had  evacuated  the  Confederate  capitol  and  Richmond 
had  fallen. 

The  rebellion  was  overthrown.  President  Lincoln  had  gone  to  the 
front,  the  North  was  in  a  frenzy  of  excitement.  From  the  Atlantic  to 
the  Pacific  men,  women  and  children  shouted  the  loud  hosannas.  The 
cruel  war  was  over,  and  the  sun  of  peace  had  fairly  risen.  The  sorrow 
and  agony  of  the  four  long,  weary  years  were  lifted  and  anthems  of 
rejoicing  were  heard.  They  reverberated  from  mountain  height  to 
mountain  height;  the  valleys  caught  up  the  descending  praise  and  sent 
it  aloft.  Messengers  of  love  gathered  the  hallelujahs  and  flung  them 
again  earthward,  while  the  angels  sang  "Peace  on  earth,  good  will  to 

men." 

Mr.  Lincoln,  casting  aside  all  fears  of  personal  danger,  took  with 
him  his  boy  "Tad"  and  left  on  a  man  of  war  for  Richmond.  He  entered 
the  city  in  a  humble  and  modest  manner,  no  brilliant  escort  accom- 
panied him,  but  on  foot  and  with  no  guard  he  and  his  young  son  entered 


SECOND  PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTION.  267 

the  fallen  city.  His  presence,  however,  soon  became  known  and  the 
liberated  people  followed  him,  shouting  in  their  ecstasy  of  joy,  "Glory! 
Glory  to  God!  May  dear  Jesus  bress  President  Lincoln!^' 

LIBERTY    IS    YOUR    BIRTHRIGHT 

The  streets  seemed  to  be  suddenly  alive  with  the  colored  race.  They 
came  from  every  direction,  and  surrounded  Mr.  Lincoln  so  that  there 
was  no  escape.  It  was  suggested  that  if  he  would  make  a  short  speech 
to  these  people  they  would  no  doubt  be  satisfied  and  allow  him  to 
pass  on. 

Quoting  from  a  history  of  Mr.  Lincoln^s  life,  the  remarks  made  by 
President  Lincoln  that  day  to  the  colored  people  were  as  follows: 

"My  poor  friends,  you  are  free,  as  free  as  air.  Liberty  is  your  birth- 
right. God  gave  it  to  you  as  he  gave  it  to  others.  You  must  try  to 
deserve  the  priceless  boon.  Let  the  world  see  that  you  merit  it,  and 
are  able  to  maintain  it  by  your  good  works.  Learn  the  laws  and  obey 
them,  obey  God's  commandments  and  thank  Him  for  giving  you  liberty, 
for  to  Him  you  owe  all  things.'' 

Then  the  President  passed  slowly  along  with  a  hurrahing  crowd  at 
his  heels.  The  windows  of  nearby  houses  flew  open,  and  all  conditions 
of  men  and  women  gazed  upon  the  strange  sight. 

On  Sunday,  April  9,  Mr.  Lincoln  returned  to  Washington,  and  there 
he  heard  the  thrilling  news  that  Lee,  with  his  whole  army,  had  sur- 
rendered to  General  Grant. 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  happy;  the  war  was  terminated  and  the  Union 
restored.  He  gave  himself  up  to  the  luxury  of  joy,  and  took  part  in 
the  demonstration  that  the  city  of  Washington  had  prepared.  The 
greatest  excitement  and  enthusiasm  prevailed ;  flags  were  flying  every- 
where, cannons  were  booming,  bands  were  playing  and  the  people 
suspended  business  and  gave  themselves  up  to  the  pleasure  of  the 
joyful  occasion. 

Crowds  surrounded  the  White  House  and  called  for  the  President. 
He  addressed  the  populace  twice  that  day,  in  the  afternoon  and  even- 
ing. 


268  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

In  this  man's  administration  the  world  had  seen  and  wondered  at 
the  great  sign  and  marvel  of  our  day — a  plain  workingman  of  the 
people,  with  no  more  culture,  instruction  or  education  than  any  man 
may  obtain  for  himself,  called  on  to  conduct  the  passage  of  a  great 
nation  through  a  crisis  involving  the  destinies  of  the  whole  world. 


HON.    ROBERT    T.    LINCOLN. 

The  above  is  a  recent  photograph  of  the  Hon.  Robert  Lincoln,  eldest 

son  of  President  Lincoln,  and  the  only  surviving 

member   of   the    family- 


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CHAPTER  XXXVIL 

LINCOLN'S  ASSASSINATION 

THE  great  rebellion  was  ended,  General  Grant  reached  Washing* 
ton  on  the  thirteenth  of  April,  1865,  and  held  an  interview  with 
the  President.  The  people  were  glad  and  happy.  Washington 
was  illuminated,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  was  the  one  man  who  now  received 
the  adulation  of  a  thankful  people.  His  motives  were  vindicated  and 
his  name  had  been  given  to  the  safe  keeping  of  a  grateful  people.  He 
was  the  savior  of  his  country  and  the  liberator  of  an  enslaved  race. 

Mr.  Lincoln  had  now  reached  the  pinnacle  of  human  fame.  From 
the  humble  frontier  home  to  the  Executive  Mansion,  he  had  climbed  the 
ladder  of  renown  and  success  by  his  own  indomitable  purpose  and 

honest  intent. 

WARNINGS 

The  President  had,  from  the  time  of  his  departure  from  Springfield, 
in  1861,  up  to  the  present  time,  periodically  received  threatening 
letters.  They  did  not,  however,  trouble  him,  although  they  did  his 
associates,  and  so  much  so  that  his  absolute  indifference  to  his  personal 
safety  alarmed  his  friends.  They  begged  him  to  be  watchful,  lest  he 
be  attacked  in  an  unguarded  moment.  Still  he  treated  their  anxiety 
with  perfect  calmness  and  composure  and  refused  any  official  protec- 
tion, going  about  the  city  and  its  environments  alone  and  unattended. 

The  morning  of  the  eventful  fourteenth  of  April  dawned.  The 
people  were  jubilant,  and  the  places  of  amusement  were  again 
thronged.  It  was  announced  by  the  Washington  papers  that  the  Presi- 
dent and  General  Grant  would  occupy  the  State  box  at  Ford's  Theater 
that  evening.  The  result  of  such  an  announcement  packed  the  building 
from  dome  to  pit.  General  Grant  did  not  desire  to  go  and  Mr.  Lincoln 
was  also  disinclined,  but  when  such  announcement  had  been  made  and 
his  presence  promised  he  was  loth  to  disappoint  the  audience,  and  in 
his  characteristically  good  natured  way  he  concluded  to  attend  the  per- 
formance. 

269 


270  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

THE    TRAGEDY 

As  the  hour  approached  for  leaving  for  the  theater  the  President 
was  engaged  in  talking  with  some  unexpected  arrivals,  and  he  seemed 
loth  to  leave  them.  His  delay  caused  some  surprise,  and  Mrs.  Lincoln 
came  into  the  room  and  said  to  her  husband,  "We  shall  be  late,  it  is 
now  nine  o'clock." 

The  President  arose,  asked  his  friends  to  accompany  them  to  the 
theater,  and  upon  their  refusal  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lincoln  immediately  en- 
tered the  carriage  alone  and  ordered  the  coachman  to  drive  them  to 
the  house  of  Senator  Harris,  where  they  were  to  take  in  some  invited 
friends,  who  were  quite  surprised  to  have  had  the  President  delay  his 
appointment. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lincoln  were  accompanied  by  two  young  friends. 
Major  Rathburn  and  Miss  Harris.  When  the  party  passed  into  the 
private  box  the  entire  assembly  cheered  the  President  with  unusual 
enthusiasm,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  acknowledged  the  outburst  with  a  more 
than  usual  warmth  of  manner. 

Order  was  restored  and  the  play  proceeded.  An  excited  stranger 
entered  the  passage  to  the  President's  box,  presented  his  card  to  the 
servant  in  waiting,  and  said,  "The  President  has  sent  for  me." 

Forcing  his  way  into  the  box  and  before  anyone  could  understand 
or  prevent  his  terrible  purpose,  the  madman,  J.  Wilkes  Booth,  fired  at 
the  President.  The  awful  messenger  accomplished  its  deadly  work,  the 
bullet  had  penetrated  the  President's  brain.  The  great  man  was  desper- 
ately wounded.  He  made  no  outcry,  he  did  not  move,  but  now,  how 
was  the  assassin  to  escape?  His  entrance  was  blocked  by  the  surging 
and  maddened  crowd.  Major  Rathburn  sprang  upon  him,  the  audience 
was  in  a  tumult  of  terror  and  excitement,  women  shrieked  and  fainted, 
men  with  awful  threats  of  vengeance  added  to  the  noise  and  confusion. 
The  murderer,  parting  the  starry  flag  that  had  draped  the  front  of  the 
President's  box,  sprang,  with  a  desperate  leap,  upon  the  stage;  his 
voice  rising  loud  and  clear  above  the  babble  and  horror,  rang  out: 
"Sic  semper  tyrannis." 

In  frenzied  desperation  the  assassin  paused  for  a  moment  in  his 


LINCOLN'S  ASSASSINATION.  371 

mad  career,  and  again  his  voice  pierced  the  din  of  distraction.  "The 
South  is  avenged,"  he  shouted,  and  dashed  from  the  theater.  Mounting 
his  waiting  steed  the  assassin  fled  into  the  darkness  and  the  night. 

Miss  Laura  Keen,  the  actress,  begged  the  audience  to  be  calm,  and 
entering  the  President's  box  tried  to  administer  water  and  cordials,  but 
the  physicians  who  had  already  gathered  about  saw  there  was  no  hope 
and  ordered  the  helpless  form  carried  from  the  theater  building. 

Directly  across  the  street  from  the  theater  Mr.  Lincoln  was  tenderly 
borne  and  at  seven  o'clock  the  next  morning  his  gentle  spirit  took  its 
heavenward  flight,  and  death  was  Lincoln's  summons  to  promotion. 
The  chapter  closed,  the  bullet  came,  and  fixed  him  in  the  niche  of 
fame. 

The  long,  sad  morning  was  filled  with  the  clang  of  tolling  bells,  and 
by  common  impulse  every  iron  tongue  in  the  broad  land  echoed  the 
solemn  requiem. 

THE    FUNERAL    TRAIN 

The  nation  was  wrapped  in  the  gloom  of  profoundest  grief.  Mil- 
lions felt  the  loss  a  personal  one,  and  the  recently  liberated  black  race 
expressed  intense  sorrow  for  their  savior.  The  rich  and  the  poor,  the 
white  and  the  black  throughout  the  Northland  were  given  the  oppor- 
tunity of  viewing  their  beloved  dead.  The  funeral  train  left  Washing- 
ton on  the  twenty-first  of  April,  and  the  body  of  the  martyred  chieftain 
was  borne  westward  to  the  Prairie  State,  from  whence  he  had  gone  to 
serve  his  country  and  his  people.  Bells  rang  out  their  mournful  song 
and  solemn  dirges  filled  the  sweet  spring  air. 

The  funeral  pageant  swept  on  through  crowds  of  weeping  humanity 
to  Philadelphia,  the  cradle  of  American  liberty,  to  New  York,  the  proud 
city  of  the  Atlantic  coast,  where  the  discharge  of  artillery,  choirs  of 
sweet  singers,  mourning  trappings,  solemn  requiems  and  drooping 
flags  all  bore  testimony  to  the  universal  grief.  From  the  great  metrop- 
olis, on  the  afternoon  of  the  twenty-fourth,  the  solemn  procession  de- 
parted. The  funeral  train  was  piloted  by  the  same  engine  that  bore 
Abraham  Lincoln,  four  years  before,  on  his  triumphal  journey  to  the 
nation's  capitol.    Albany  was  reached,  then  other  less  important  towns 


272  THE  STORY  OP  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

of  central  New  York — onward  to  Buffalo.  From  the  Empire  State  to 
the  Buckeye  State,  Cleveland,  Columbus,  through  to  Indianapolis 
and  thence  to  the  welcome  of  the  Prairie  State,  and  to  Chicago,  the 
home  of  his  adoption  and  the  birthplace  of  his  immortal  renown. 

AT    THE    CITY    OF    HIS    ADOPTION 

The  funeral  cortege  arrived  in  Chicago  at  a  late  hour,  and  the  casket 
containing  the  remains  of  the  President  was  immediately  taken  to  the 
city  hall.  At  twelve  o'clock  a  company  of  distinguished  men  and 
women  gathered  about  the  bier.  The  midnight  bell  tolled  out  its  sad 
message,  the  corridors  reverberated  with  the  melody  of  chanted 
requiem,  the  prayer  of  supplication  ascended  and  a  holy  hush  was  over 
all.  The  scene  was  solemn  and  impressive,  and  one  that  can  never  be 
erased  from  the  memory  of  those  that  witnessed  it. 

The  following  day  the  general  public  was  permitted  to  look  upon 
the  calm  and  marble  features  of  the  dead  man.  Thousands  and  thou- 
sands of  men,  women  and  children  filed  by  the  casket,  paying  silent  and 
tearful  homage  to  the  nation's  illustrious  son. 

On  the  morning  of  the  third  of  May  the  funeral  train  reached  Spring- 
field, passing  through  a  continuous  line  of  weeping  spectators.  At  the 
State  House  for  a  day  and  a  night  the  steady  procession  passed  the 
casket  and  would  not  cease  its  incessant  tramp  until  the  coffin  lid  was 
closed. 

In  Oak  Ridge  Cemetery,  about  two  miles  from  the  city  of  Spring- 
field, all  that  was  mortal  of  Abraham  Lincoln  was  consigned  to  mother 
earth.  "There,  surrounded  by  the  sweetest  scenes  of  nature,  his  tomb  a 
Bhrine,  his  name  the  watchword  of  liberty,"  his  memory  hallowed  by 
every  American  citizen,  "the  w^eary  patriot  was  laid  to  rest." 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

INDEPENDENCE  DAY  AT  THE  OLD   LOG  CABIN 

ANOTHER  day  of  torrid  weather  was  upon  us  and  so  oppressive 
was  the  excessive  heat  and  sultry  air  that  I  spent  the  day  in 
reading,  retrospection  and  quiet  meditation.  My  life  for  the  past 
two  v/eeks  had  been  filled  with  the  memories  and  incidents  of  the  early 
life  of  the  martyred  President.  So  filled  indeed  it  seemed  to  me  that, 
rehabilitated,  he  had  assumed  again  his  earthly  fashion,  and  so  real  was 
his  presence  that  I  lived  with  him  the  life  of  adversity,  hardships,  toil 
and  severe  penury.  His  struggles  became  mine,  his  success  and  re- 
nown my  pride,  and  his  tragic  death  my  personal  grief.  Night  was  upon 
us  and  again  I  besought  Mr.  Hall  to  favor  me  with  further  anecdotes  of 
the  illustrious  dead.  The  boys  gathered  about  and  to  my  entreaties 
added  their  supplication,  but  their  father  still  refused  and  declared  that 
the  boys  must  retire,  "for  there  wus  the  crops  to  be  cut  to-morrer,  and 
they  must  get  up  with  the  chickens."  I  interposed  and  informed  my 
host  that  to-morrow  was  the  nation's  holiday,  the  glorious  Fourth.  But 
he  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  my  appeals  and  still  insisted  that  the  boys  must 
"up  and  to  work"  early  in  the  morning. 

THE     PATRIOTIC    STRANGER 

At  peep  of  day  the  family  arose,  but  the  hot  weather  and  continued 
labor  had  made  such  inroads  upon  the  general  health  and  good  spirits 
of  our  solicitous  handmaiden  that  breakfast  dragged,  and  it  was  quite 
six  o'clock  before  we  were  called  to  partake  of  the  morning  meal.  Every 
member  of  the  family  seemed  to  be  possessed  by  the  spirit  of  procrasti- 
nation and  we  lingered  at  the  table  discussing  the  proposed  events  of 
the  day,  when  Abe  came  leisurely  sauntering  in  and  calmly  informed 
us  that  *'paw  was  wanted  at  the  gate  by  a  man  in  a  buggy,  who  had 
come  all  the  way  from  Greenup  to  see  him."  The  master  of  the  house 
arose  and  went  out  to  see  the  stranger.  The  remainder  of  the  family 
precipitately  left  the  table  and  peered  through  the  door  and  the 
window. 

273 


274  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

The  stranger  seemed  excited  and  his  speech  was  loud  and  rapid. 
Mr.  Hall's  manner  as  he  retraced  his  steps  gave  us  no  idea  as  to  what 
the  stranger  wanted.  We  gathered  about  Uncle  John  and  impatiently 
demanded  "the  news."  After  keeping  us  in  suspense  for  a  few  min- 
utes, in  slow,  drawling  tones,  he  related  the  stranger's  conversation.  It 
was  as  follows: 

A  company  of  loyal  friends  and  neighbors  had  come  all  the  way 
from  Greenup  to  celebrate  "Independence  Day"  at  the  old  log  cabin. 
Mr.  Hall,  his  family  and  his  guests  were  cordially  invited  to  join  the 
party  and  dinner  awaited  their  pleasure. 

Wonderful  events  were  crowding  thick  and  fast,  and  the  homely 
cabin  was  becoming  an  object  of  interest.  Carriages  were  sent  for  us 
and  we  were  driven  by  the  main  road  around  to  the  now  famous  old 
family  homestead.  Gathered  in  the  yard  was  an  enthusiastic  and  happy 
band  of  more  than  thirty  souls,  all  bent  on  making  the  most  of  the  day. 

First  in  order  came  the  dinner.  A  sumptuous  repast  was  placed  upon 
improvised  tables  put  up  in  the  west  room.  The  intention  had  been  to 
spread  the  feast  out  of  doors,  beneath  the  old  locust  trees  which  Grand- 
father Lincoln  had  planted,  but  swarms  of  minute  and  stinging  insects 
drove  the  good  people  within.  For  several  days  the  air  had  been  filled 
with  the  little  tormentors,  and  upon  this  occasion  they  appeared  to  be 
more  than  usually  offensive  and  pugnacious.  One  of  the  party,  a  female 
preacher,  a  circuit  rider,  too,  gave  her  opinion  that  the  annoying  pests 
were  no  doubt  one  of  the  same  plagues  that  God  had  visited  upon 
Pharaoh. 

AN    EXPERIENCE    MEETING 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  bountiful  meal  an  enthusiastic  admirer  pro^ 
posed  that  the  exercises  should  take  the  form  of  an  experience  meeting. 
The  suggestion  was  cheerfully  accepted  and  when  the  honest  country 
folks,  both  old  and  young,  paid  their  simple  and  loving  tribute  to  the 
sterling  qualities  of  Abraham  Lincoln  and  his  parents  methought  the 
angels  for  very  joy  paused  to  listen,  and  the  "radiant  witnesses"  carried 
the  offering  up  into  the  high  and  shining  courts. 

It  was  quite  well  known  to  the  little  company  that  the  secretary  of 


INDEPENDENCE  DAY  AT  THE  OLD  LOG  CABIN.  275 

the  Abraham  Lincoln  Log  Cabin  Association  was  present  and  she  was 
urged  to  give  an  outline  of  the  societj^'s  work,  which  she  did  in  a  brief 
way.  The  object  lesson  which  the  association  hoped  to  give  the  young  peo- 
ple of  the  country,  by  removing  the  log  cabin  to  Chicago  and  reconstruct- 
ing it,  was  for  the  purpose  of  familiarizing  boys  and  young  men  with  the 
extreme  homeliness  and  poverty  and  disadvantages  of  Mr.  Lincoln^s 
home  and  early  life.  To  demonstrate  to  the  youth  of  America  that  a 
man  can  rise  superior  to  his  surroundings,  circumstances  and  condi- 
tions of  his  childhood,  youth  and  even  young  manhood.  To  show  the 
possibilities  that  may  be  achieved  through  honesty  of  purpose,  perse- 
verance and  self-culture.  To  trace  the  life  of  Abraham  Lincoln  from 
the  log  cabin  to  the  Executive  Mansion,  from  a  poor,  illiterate  boy,  to 
a  profound  statesman,  from  obscurity  to  national  honor,  from  common 
toil  and  hardship  to  national  service,  from  humble  birth  to  martyr 
death  and  glorious  resurrection. 

AN    AMATEUR'S    SPEECH 

Without  further  explanation  I  paused  and  beckoning  to  Mr.  Hall 
presented  him  to  the  interested  group,  by  saying:  This  is  the  man  that 
can  tell  you  more  about  the  President  and  his  people  than  any  other 
living  person.  The  welcome  extended  to  Abraham  Lincoln's  cousin  was 
cordial  in  the  extreme  and  the  late  owner  of  the  "cabin"  stepped  upon 
the  rude  platform.  Looking  at  the  upturned  faces  of  the  little  gather- 
ing, he  said: 

"I  hain't  used  to  speakin'  no  how,  but  I'll  jest  tell  yer  all  how  grand- 
marm  used  to  stand  and  look  down  the  road  out  of  that  air  winder 
(pointing  to  the  south  side  of  the  west  room)  and  watch  and  watch  fur 
Uncle  Abe,  and  when  she'd  see  him  comin'  she^d  put  her  hands  together 
and  drop  down  on  her  knees  and  say,  'Thare  comes  my  boy,  my  boy.' 
Grandmarm  wus  allers  the  first  to  see  him  comin'  down  the  road  or 
across  the  medder  and  she^d  jest  stand  still  and  cry  and  cry  and  say, 
*Thare  comes  my  boy,  Abe.'  Oh  it  wus  joyful  to  see  those  two  meet 
Wall,  he  nevei'  did  stop  comin'  no  how,  and  after  he  got  to  be  a  big 
man  and  wore  a  high  hat  he  come  jest  the  same,  and  it  wus  never  men- 
tioned between  Uncle  Abe  and  grandmarm  that  it  wus  strange  or  won* 


276  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

derful  that  he  should  be  so  great  and  honored  a  man  for  she  never 
thought  that  nothin',  no  how,  wus  tu  great  for  him,  and  often  said, 
'There's  no  stoppin'  for  Abe,'  and  one  time  when  she  said  so  to  Uncle 
Dennis  Hanks  he  ses,  ses  he,  ^Why,  I  larned  Abe  to  write  with  a  feather 
pen  made  from  a  buzzard's  wing  and  that's  what  made  him  so  smart.' 
But  grandmarm  'ud  jest  smile,  quiet  like  and  say,  *  'Twas  in  the  boy  else 
it  'ud  never  come  out  in  the  man.' " 

At  this  point  in  Mr.  Hall's  reminiscences  Sis  moved  close  to  me, 
and  in  a  whisper  said,  "Ask  paw  to  tell  about  Uncle  Abe  when  he  come 
to  the  cabin  after  he  got  to  be  a  Pi^esident." 

I  now  believed  that  a  most  favorable  opportunity  had  arrived,  and, 
taking  advantage  of  the  occasion,  I  called  out  to  Mr.  Hall  in  a  rather 
excited  manner  and  asked  him  to  relate  to  the  little  gathering  the  story 
of  the  President's  visit  at  the  old  log  cabin.  My  words  electrified  the 
little  audience,  and  the  gathering  insisted  until  Uncle  John  mounted  the 
platform.  Mr.  Hall,  in  his  own  peculiar  way,  related  the  following 
circumstance : 

THE  PRESIDENT  AT  THE  LOG  CABIN 

"Jest  the  day  afore  Uncle  Abe  come  up,  the  chimney  fell  down,  and 
I  hed  to  take  grandmarm  over  to  my  mother's  house.  She  wus  married 
ag'in  and  livin'  down  to  Farmington  then.  Wall,  that  mornin'  when  I 
wus  fixin'  up  the  chimney  who  should  drive  into  the  yard  and  holler  out 
but  Uncle  Abe,  the  President  of  the  United  States.  He  got  out  of  the 
buggy  jest  as  nateral  and  shook  hands  and  asked  after  all  the  relations, 
but  when  he  found  grandmarm  gone  he  said,  ses  he,  'Come  boys,  let's 
all  get  into  the  buggy  and  go  over  there,'  which  we  did;  but  before 
we  started  Uncle  Abe  looked  the  house  all  over  and  said,  'It  looks  jest 
as  it  always  did,'  and  then  he  called  me  to  one  side  and  whispered  in 
my  ear,  and  pointing  up  with  his  right  hand  he  said,  'Oh,  my  God !  John, 
once  the  old  cabin,  now  the  White  House.'  After  a  bit  he  went  out  into 
the  yard  and  Uncle  Abe  picked  up  a  piece  of  scantlin'  and  ast  me  for  a 
axe.  Then  he  chopped  it  in  two  and  took  out  his  pen  knife  and  cut  two 
large  letters,  'T.  L.,'  and  said,  'I'm  going  to  drive  these  down  at  father's 
head  and  feet.'    Then  we  went  over  to  the  graveyard  about  two  miles 


INDEPENDENCE  DAY  AT  THE  OLD  LOG  CABIN.  277 

away  where  Grandpap  Lincoln  was  buried  and  Uncle  Abe  placed  them, 
one  at  the  head,  t'other  at  the  foot.  From  there  we  druv  over  to  Farm- 
ington  where  Grandmarm  Lincoln  wus  and  took  dinner  with  the  folks. 
When  we  went  into  the  house  and  grandmarm  seed  him  she  begun  to 
cry,  and  said,  ^They'll  murder  you,  Abe,  and  I'll  never  get  to  see  you  no 
more.'  He  brought  grandmarm  a  present  of  a  black  woolen  dress, 
alapacy  I  think  it  wus,  and  a  pattern  to  make  it  by.  I  believe  she  kept 
it  until  she  died,  and  wus  buried  in  it.  When  the  people  heerd  he  hed 
come  home,  the  neighbors  and  the  old  settlers  all  wanted  to  see  him  and 
the  school  wus  dismissed.  Uncle  Abe  talked  with  all  of  the  folks  and 
hed  a  laugh  with  every  one.  He  talked  to  them  in  the  house  and  I 
recklect  one  thing  he  told  the  women.  Ses  he,  ^I  will  tell  you  what 
would  cause  a  great  deal  of  mourning  all  over  the  United  States  if  it 
were  to  happen.'  Some  of  them  wanted  to  know  what  it  wus.  ^Well,' 
ses  he,  4f  the  matches  should  all  fail  to  go  off  some  morning  when  you 
got  up,  there  would  be  a  great  deal  of  stir  about  a  fire  because  none  of 
vou  know  how  to  make  a  fire  like  we  used  to  in  the  old  times.  And  now 
I'll  tell  you  how  we  made  fire  when  I  was  a  boy.  If  father  got  up  on  a 
cold  morning  and  the  fire  was  out  in  the  fireplace,  he  would  get  a  bunch 
of  tow  and  put  it  down  on  a  piece  of  plank,  then  he  would  take  the 
powder  horn  and  pour  the  powder  on  the  tow  and  take  the  fiint  out  of 
the  gun  or  hunt  a  piece  of  flint  out  of  doors  and  take  his  knife  and  shut 
it  up  and  strike  it  against  the  flint,  and  then  if  any  of  the  sparks  hap- 
pened to  fall  on  the  powder  the  tow  would  take  fire  and  blaze  up. 
'Then  there  was  no  more  trouble  after  that.  So  if  all  kinds  of  matches 
fail,  don't  forget  the  tow  and  flint.' 

GRANDMARM^S    ESTIMATE    OF    A    BOY 

"Ye  can  jest  believe  that  wus  a  big  day  for  us,  but  nobody  would 
have  knowed  he  wus  any  more  than  he  used  to  be.  Why,  grandmarm 
allers  said  he  wus  the  best  boy  that  wus  livin'  and  that  he  wus  allers 
gentle  and  kind  and  good  and  patient,  and  I  knowed  he  never  would 
no  how  hurt  nothin'.  He'd  never  shoot  a  bird  nor  rob  a  bird's  nest,  nor 
step  on  a  worm ;  and  allers  at  hog  killin'  time  he'd  go  away." 

After  thanking  the  speakers,  the  little  company  reformed  into  line 


278  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

and  departed.  The  band  wagon  headed  the  procession.  The  Stars  and 
Stripes  floated  in  the  evening  breeze,  and,  as  Old  Glory  rose  and  fell  in 
undulating  waves  of  tricolored  harmony,  the  little  company  responded, 
and  three  cheers  were  given  for  the  restored  Union  and  Uncle  Abe. 

Reaching  the  four  corners  the  procession  turned  into  the  opposite 
direction  from  whence  it  came,  a  circumstance  which  aroused  our 
curiosity.  Dispatching  one  of  the  boys  "cross  lots'^  we  bade  him  inter- 
cept the  retinue  and  learn  the  cause  of  so  strange  a  proceeding.  Abe 
Hall  returned  and  told  us  that  "the  folks  wus  goin'  over  to  the  grave- 
yard to  put  some  posies  on  the  graves  of  Grandpap  and  Grandmarm 
Lincoln."  We  uncovered  our  heads  and  remained  silent,  while  tears 
coursed  down  Uncle  John  HalPs  cheeks.  Presently  he  said,  "How  I 
wish  Uncle  Abe  knowed  them  strangers  did  so  good  a  deed." 


^ 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 
FAREWELL  TO  THE  LINCOLN   HOMESTEAD 

THE  day  was  done,  and  when  the  excitement  of  the  eventful  occa- 
sion  had  worn  off  we  found  ourselves  too  weary  for  further  con- 
versation. Morning  dawned.  It  was  the  Sabbath  day.  The  very 
air  was  filled  with  a  solemn  stillness.  The  beasts  of  the  field  and  the 
fowls  of  the  air  took  upon  themselves  the  restful  ness  of  the  holy  day. 
All  nature  was  hushed,  and  the  ennui  of  languidness  overcame  us. 
During  the  forenoon  again  we  visited  the  cabin  and  passed  hours  in 
talking  of  the  departed  inmates.  Still  I  continued  to  call  upon  my  host 
for  more  information,  and  after  gazing  about  in  a  thoughtful  mood, 
Uncle  John  Hall  shook  his  head  and  slowly  replied :  "I  hain't  any  heart 
fur  telling  yarns  when  I  think  of  how  they  killed  Uncle  Abe.  I  never 
could  make  out  what  fur  they  killed  him.  He  never  did  no  man  no 
harm,  and  if  he  hadn't  freed  the  black  folks  somebody  'ud  come  along 
purty  soon  and  done  the  deed  anyway,  'cause  it  hed  to  be.  When  grand- 
marm  heerd  how  that  Uncle  Abe  wus  killed  she  jest  put  her  apern  over 
her  face  and  cried  out,  ^Oh,  my  boy  Abe!  they've  killed  him,  I  knowed 
they  would,  I  knowed  they  would.'  She  never  hed  no  heart  after  that 
to  be  chirp  and  peart  like  she  used  to  be."  Again  the  voice  of  mourning 
rent  the  air.  Rachael  weeping  for  her  children  and  will  not  be  com- 
forted because  they  are  not.  A  mother^s  heart  stricken  with  bitter, 
poignant  grief  for  which  there  was  no  present  balm. 

THE     LEAVE-TAKING 

The  eventful  sojourn  at  the  old  log  cabin  had  been  one  of  peculiar 
interest  and  unusual  pleasure.  To-morrow  would  be  full  of  leave-tak- 
ings, parting  words,  and  the  final  gathering  of  tangled  pen  pictures 
and  family  relics. 

In  order  to  encompass  the  day's  duties  and  pleasures,  my  companion 
and  I  retired  early  that  we  might  secure  a  restful  night,  but  the 
joyful  expectation  of  again  seeing  home  and  friends  filled  our  hearts 

279 


280  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

with  nervous  anticipation,  and  we  tossed  restlessly  about  until  the  dawn 
of  morning. 

At  an  early  hour  we  heard  the  tramping  of  hoofs  and  the  roll  of 
wheels.  My  young  companion  and  myself  exchanged  nervous,  excited 
glances  and  rushed,  pell  mell,  out  into  the  morning  air.  We  were  not 
mistaken,  for  our  friends,  who  had  come  down  with  us  from  Chicago 
some  three  weeks  before,  had  arrived  bringing  with  them  other  friends. 

There  were  several  carriages  filled  with  interested  people,  photog- 
raphers, architects  and  contractors.  Among  the  newcomers  was  Mr. 
J.  W.  Eoot,  the  well  known  photographer  of  Chicago,  who  accompanied 
the  party  in  order  to  superintend  the  series  of  photographs  which 
should  include  every  possible  view,  both  as  to  exterior  and  interior  of 
the  old  Lincoln  homestead. 

Arriving  at  the  cabin  we  found  a  motley  crowd  assembled — neigh- 
bors, friends  and  relatives.  'Twas  a  gala  day  for  the  inhabitants.  They 
had  come  from  far  and  near.  Every  one  was  in  the  best  of  spirits  and 
this  Monday,  July  6,  1891,  will  long  be  remembered  by  the  people  of 
Coles  County,  Illinois. 

We  stayed  at  the  cabin  till  quite  the  hour  for  departure.  Measure- 
ments were  taken,  groups  of  the  old  neighbors  and  relatives  were  pho- 
tographed, reminiscences,  stories,  and  sayings  of  Uncle  Abe  and  the 
old  folks  were  related  by  the  more  intimate  acquaintances.  Each  and 
every  spot  in  the  cabin  or  on  the  grounds  about,  where  Uncle  Abe  had 
stood  or  sat  or  lain  or  worked,  was  pointed  out  and  rails  and  rafters 
and  beams  were  reverently  touched,  while  the  good  people  paid  tribute 
to  the  sacred  dead  in  a  thousand  tender  ways. 

At  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  we  bade  the  family  farewell,  prom- 
ising to  come  again  before  long,  and  left  the  cabin  securely  and  safely 
guarded  until  it  should  be  removed  to  Chicago.  Our  departure  was  a 
genuine  source  of  unhappiness  to  the  little  family  group. 

GOOD    RESULTS 

My  young  companion  had  been  an  inspiration  to  Sis,  and  my  ac- 
counts of  the  outside  world  had  awakened  a  new  train  of  thought  in 
tke  minds  of  the  boys.    They  had  actually  been  traveling  in  wonderland^ 


FAREWELL  TO  THE  LINCOLN  HOMESTEAD,  281 

and  my  commonplace  descriptions  of  city  doings  were  marvelous  fairy 
tales  to  them.  These  country  folks  had  lived  all  of  their  years  so  near 
(just  across  the  Prairie  State)  to  the  great  throbbing  center  of  human 
life  and  its  activities  and  yet  so  far  from  its  influences  and  a  knowledge 
of  its  wonderful  intensities  that  primitive  simplicity  had  marked  their 
daily  existence  and  rural  joys  had  filled  their  "cup  of  happiness." 

Our  return  trip  to  the  railroad  station  at  Mattoon  would  have  been 
quite  monotonous  and  uneventful  save  for  one  little  episode.  At  the 
country  graveyard  we  halted  and  here  we  found  the  withered  flowers 
that  had  been  placed  upon  the  graves  of  Mr.  Thomas  Lincoln  and  his 
wife  by  the  company  that  had  spent  Independence  Day  at  the  old  cabin. 

The  modest  and  unpretentious  shaft  erected  to  the  memory  of 
Thomas  Lincoln  was  photographed,  and  naturally  the  question  arose, 
Did  Abraham  Lincoln  erect  the  monument?  If  not,  who  did?  A 
neighbor  living  across  the  way  from  God^s  acre  had  seen  the  carriages 
stop  at  the  cemetery,  and  watched  the  inmates  alight  and  pass  into  the 
graveyard;  but  as  the  gathering  did  not  constitute  a  funeral  proces- 
sion the  farmer  could  not  restrain  his  curiosity  and  he  had  come  over 
to  see  what  "the  doings  was.''  When  he  heard  the  question  propounded 
concerning  the  Lincoln  monument  he  told  the  story  of  its  placement 
after  the  following  fashion : 

"While  Mr.  Lincoln  was  President  he  gave  money  to  a  friend  and 
asked  him  to  erect  a  suitable  tablet  to  the  memory  of  his  father;  but 
the  war  coming  on  and  so  much  care  and  trouble  and  anxiety  crowding 
in  upon  him  he  had  neglected  to  attend  to  the  matter  personally.  His 
supposed  friend  proved  false  and  failed  to  perform  the  commission. 
Some  year's  after  Mr.  Lincoln's  tragic  death,  friends  of  the  family  raised 
a  sufficient  amount  to  buy  the  shaft  which  now  marks  the  last  resting 
place  of  Grandfather  and  Grandmother  Lincoln." 

THE    RETURN    TO    CHICAGO 

As  darkness  closed  in  about  us  our  party  again  entered  the  town  of 
Mattoon  and  at  midnight  left  for  Chicago,  where  we  arrived  in  time  for 
an  early  breakfast.    The  great  city  was  astir  and  its  noisy  strife  was 


282  THE  STORY  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

indeed  grateful,  after  the  monotonous  quiet  of  my  late  simple,  rural 
life. 

The  street  cars  whirled  me  through  the  crowded  thoroughfares  and 
out  of  the  down-town  traffic.  A  vision  of  loveliness  burst  upon  me — 
Lincoln  Park  in  all  its  wealth  of  beauty  and  fragrance  and  verdure  was 
revealed,  and  at  the  entrance,  guarding  the  lovely  scene,  stood  the  mag- 
nificent statue  of  the  martyred  President,  Abraham  Lincoln. 

Again  my  mind  reverted  to  the  old  log  cabin  and  I  saw  the  pano- 
ramic career  of  the  great  soul  as  a  living  picture  burned  upon  my  very 
brain. 

"Born  as  lowly  as  the  Son  of  God  in  a  hovel,  of  what  real  parentage 
we  know  not;  reared  in  penury,  squalor,  with  no  gleam  of  light,  nor 
fair  surrounding;  a  young  manhood  vexed  by  weird  dreams  and 
visions,  bordering  at  times  on  madness;  without  grace,  natural  or 
acquired;  singularly  awkward,  ungainly,  even  among  the  uncouth 
about  him;  grotesque  in  his  aspects  and  ways;  it  was  reserved  for  this 
strange  being  late  in  life,  without  name  or  fame  or  preparation,  to  be 
snatched  from  obscurity,  raised  to  supreme  command  at  a  supreme  mo- 
ment, intrusted  with  the  destiny  of  a  people. 

"Glorious  Martyr!  Now  he  belongs  to  the  ages.  Blessed  Martyr! 
Pass  on !  Pass  on  through  the  everlasting  kingdom  of  peace  and  joy,  but 
the  world  is  lonesome  without  thee." 

When  time  has  blotted  out  the  pyramids,  when  it  has  obliterated 
the  monuments  of  the  world,  a  solitary  shaft  bearing  the  name  of 
l*ncoln  will  still  be  standing  on  the  Appian  way  of  history. 


A  FEW  OF  LINCOLN'S  GREAT  SAYINGS 


This,  is  a  world  of  compensations;  and  he  who  would  be 
no  slave  must  consent  to  have  no  slave. 


Those  who  deny  freedom  to  others  deserve  it  not  for 
themselves;  and,  under  a  just  God,  cannot  retain  it. 


If  the  union  of  these  States  and  the  liberties  of  this  peo- 
ple shall  be  lost,  it  is  but  little  to  any  one  man  of  fifty-two 
years  of  age,  but  a  great  deal  to  the  thirty  millions  of  people 
who  inhabit  these  United  States  and  to  their  posterity  in  all 
coming  time. 


I  believe  that  this  Government  cannot  endure  perma- 
nently half  slave  and  half  free. 


I  do  not  expect  the  Union  to  be  dissolved ;  I  do  not  ex- 
pect the  house  to  fall;  but  I  do  expect  it  will  cease  to  be 
divided. 


We  shall  not  fail — if  we  stand  firm — we  shall  not  fail. 


Even  though  much  provoked,  let  us  do  nothing  through 
passion  and  ill -temper. 

Let  us  have  faith  that  right  makes  might;  and  in  that 
faith  let  us,  to  the  end,  dare  to  do  our  duty  as  we  under- 
stand it. 


In  stating  a  single  condition  of  peace,  I  mean  simply 
to  say  that  the  war  will  cease  on  the  part  of  the  Govern- 
ment whenever  it  shall  have  ceased  on  the  part  of  those 
who  began  it. 


It  may  seem  strange  that  any  men  should  dare  to  ask  a 
just  God/s  assistance  in  wringing  their  bread  from  the 

283 


284  LINCOLN'S    GREAT   SAYINGS. 

sweat  of  other  men's  faces,  but  let  us  judge  not,  tliat  we 
be  not  judged. 

I  intend  to  point  immigration  to  tbe  gold  and  silver  tbat 
wait  for  tkem  in  the  West.  We  shall  prove  in  a  very  few 
years  that  we  are  indeed  the  treasury  of  the  world. 


With  malice  towards  none,  with  charity  for  all,  with 
firmness  in  the  right  as  God  gives  us  to  see  the  right,  let  us 
finish  the  work  we  are  in,  to  bind  up  the  nation's  wounds, 
to  care  for  him  whO'  shall  have  borne  the  battle,  and  for  his 
widow  and  his  orphans,  to  do  all  which  may  achieve  and 
cherish  a  just  and  a  lasting  peace  among  ourselves  and  with 
all  nations^ 


I  am  struggling  to  maintain  the  Government,  not  to 
overthrow  it. 


God  bless  the  soldiers  and  seamen,  with  all  their  brave 
commanders. 


Gold  is  good  in  its  place;  but  living,  brave  and  patriotic 
men  are  better  than  gold. 


So  long  as  I  have  been  here  I  have  not  willingly  planted 
a  thorn  in  any  man's  bosom. 


Thoughtful  men  must  feel  that  the  fate  of  civilization 
upon  this  continent  is  involved  in  the  issue  of  our  contest. 


The  world  has  never  had  a.  good  definition  of  the  word 
liberty,  and  the  American  people,  just  now,  are  much  in 
want  of  one. 


War  has  caused  mourning  among  us  until  the  heavens 
may  almost  be  said  to  be  hung  in  black. 

The  man  who  stands  by  and  says  nothing  when  the  peril 
of  Government  is  discussed,  cannot  be  misunderstood. 


PALL-BEARER'S    BADGE. 

The  above  picture  is  a  photograph  of  the  badge  worn  by  Mr.  Fernando 
Jones,  one  of  the  honorary  pall-bearers  at  President  Lincoln'? 
funeral  ceremonies  in  Chicago,  May  2,  1865. 


ABRAHAM    LINCOLN    IN    1860. 

From  an  ambrotype  taken  in  Springfield,  111.  W.  P.  Brown  of  Fhi.a- 
delphia,  who  formerly  owned  it,  writes  of  the  portrait:  "This  picture, 
along  with  another  one,  was  presented  by  President  Lincoln  to  my 
father,  after  he  had  finished  painting  Lincoln's  picture  on  ivory,  at 
Springfield,  111.  The  commission  was  given  my  father  by  Judge  Read 
immediately  after  Lincoln's  nomination  for  the  Presidency.  One  of  the 
ambrotypes  I  sold  to  the  Historical  Society  of  Boston,  and  it  is  now  in 
their  possession."  The  miniature  referred  to  is  now  owned  by  Mr.  Rob- 
ert T.  Lincoln.    It  was  circulated  widely  before  the  inauguration. 


'LINCOLN'S    GREAT   SAYINGS  286 

I  shall  do  nothing  in  malice. 


I  have  never  studied  the  art  of  paying  compliments  to 
women;  but  I  must  say,  that  if  all  that  has  been  said  by 
orators  and  poets  since  the  creation  of  the  world  in  praise 
of  women  were  applied  to  the  women  of  America,  it  would 
not  do  them  justice  for  their  conduct  during  this  war.  God 
bless  the  women  of  America. 


My  paramount  object  is  to  save  the  Union,  and  not  either 
to  save  or  to  destroy  slavery. 

Whatever  shall  appear  to  be  God's  will  I  do. 


What  I  did,  I  did  after  a  very  full  deliberation,  and 
under  a  very  heavy  and  solemn  responsibility.  I  can  only 
trust  in  God  I  have  made  no  mistake. 


The  fiery  trial  through  which  we  shall  pas®  will  light 
us  down  in  honor  or  dishonor  to  the  latest  generation. 


In  a  storm  at  sea  no  one  can  wish  the  ship  to  sink;  and 
yet  not  unfrequently  all  go  down  together,  because  too  many 
will  direct^  and  no  single  mind  can  be  allowed  to  control. 


Labor  is  prior  and  independent  of  capital.  Capital  is 
only  the  fruit  of  labor,  and  could  never  have  existence  if 
labor  had  not  first  existed. 


No  men  living  are  more  worthy  to  oe  trusted  than  those 
who  toil  up  from  poverty — none  lessi  inclined  to  take  or 
touch  aught  which  they  have  not  earnestly  earned. 


I  hold  that,  in  contemplation  of  universal  law,  and  of 
the  Constitution,  the  Union  of  these  States  is  perpetual. 


A  husband  and  wife  may  be  divorced,  and  go  out  of  the 
presence  and  beyond  the  reach  of  each  other;  but  the  differ- 
ent parts  of  our  country  cannot  do  this. 


286  LINCOLirS    GREAT   SAYINGS. 

The  mystic  cord  of  memory,  stretcMng  from  every  battle- 
field and  patriot  grave  to  every  living  heart  and  hearthstone 
all  over  this  broad  land,  will  yet  swell  the  chorus  of  the? 
Union,  when  again  touched,  as  surely  they  will  be,  by  the 
better  angels  of  our  natura 


Would  an  exchange  be  an  exchange  of  rights  upon 
principle? 

I  turn,  then,  and  look  to  the  great  American  people,  and 
to  that  God  who  has  never  forsaken  them. 


The  man  does  not  live  who  is  more  devoted  to  peace  than 
I  am. 


May  my  right  hand  forget  its  cunning,  and  my  tongue 
cleave  to  the  roof  of  my  mouth,  if  I  ever  prove  false  to  the 
teachings  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  and  to 
the  sentiments  embodied  in  the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence. 


So  reached  that  the  oppressed  of  my  species  might  have 
shared  with  me  in  the  elevation,  I  would  rather  stand  on 
that  eminence  than  wear  the  richest  crown  that  ever  pressed 
a  monarch's  brow. 


Let  us  have  faith  that  right  makes  might,  and  in  that 
faith  let  us,  to  the  end,  dare  to  do  our  duty,  as  we  under- 
stand it. 


p=»a.F£t:"   II 


JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES 


PREFACE. 


HAVING  concluded  to  add  a  series  of  jokes,  stories  and  popular 
anecdotes  to  the  "Life  of  Lincoln,"  which  entered  so  largely  into 
the  daily  life  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  I  first  wish  to  define  and  illustrate 
the  purpose  which  actuated  this  habit  or  propensity. 

His  purposes,  in  "story  telling,"  were  many  and  manifold.  One  of 
his  modes  of  getting  rid  of  troublesome  friends,  as  well  as  troublesome 
enemies  was  by  telling  a  story.  If  a  man  broached  a  subject  which  he 
did  not  wish  to  discuss,  he  told  a  story  which  changed  the  complexion 
of  the  conversation.  If  he  was  called  upon  to  answer  a  question,  he 
answered  it  by  telling  a  story.    He  had  a  story  for  everything. 

Mr.  Lincoln's  habit  in  employing  homely  and  humorous  language, 
woven  into  constructive,  convincing  and  illustrative  anecdotal  fabric, 
was  not  a  cultivated  habit.  It  was  a  natural  gift  and  so  natural  that 
it  was  no  effort  for  his  brain  to  conjure  up  similes  consisting  of  facts 
or  fiction  as  the  case  might  be.  His  faculty  of  finding  or  inventing  a 
story  to  every  event  to  w^hich  he  bore  any  relation  was  indeed  marvel- 
ous. It  is  not  for  a  moment  to  be  considered  that  he  spent  any  time  in 
elaborating  them,  but  by  some  law  of  association  every  event  that  oc- 
curred suggested  some  story,  and  by  an  involuntary  process  his  mind 
harmonized  and  marshaled  into  line  the  word  picture.  His  mind  was 
full  of  stories;  and  even  the  great  and  momentous  facts  of  his  life 
seemed  to  take  up  their  abode  in  these  peculiarly  classified  realms, 
and  if  the  garment  did  not  fit  them  it  w^as  so  modified  and  changed  that 
it  did. 

Many  waiters  accuse  him  of  being  witty,  but  this  is  a  mistake, 
for  wit  is  always  an  exaggeration  of  the  truth,  and  the  world  know^s 
that  Mr.  Lincoln  never  exaggerated.  He  possessed  a  mind  that  always 
perceived  the  exact  truth,  and  in  illustrating,  his  humor  was  never 
exaggerated.     It  is  said  that  Mr.  Lincoln's  stories  did  not  produce 

28f 


200  PREFACE 

hilarious  laughter.  Many  of  them  afforded  pleasure,  and  all  of  them 
always  amused,  though  oft  en-times  expressing  reproof,  rebuke  and 
satire.  He  was  in  no  sense  a  funny  man  and  no  act  or  speech  of  his 
life  ever  conveyed  such  impression.  He  was  not  a  buffoon  nor  a  boor, 
but  a  quiet  humor  pervaded  his  sayings,  even  when  his  features  wore 
a  melancholy  expression. 

He  never  ridiculed,  but  often  exposed  conceit  and  pretense  by  an 
apt  and  faithful  illustration — by  a  story  which  uncovered  and  revealed 
the  true  character  which  had  been  so  subtlely  veneered,  that  the  ordi- 
nary mortal  had  not  discovered  the  sham  and  alloy. 

Some  writers  take  delight  in  publishing  an  untrue  statement  that 
Mr.  Lincoln  indulged  in  stories  which  would  not  bear  the  daylight  of 
polite  or  even  decent  society,  and  they  conjure  up  a  selection  of  "smutty 
yarns"  in  order  to  tickle  the  palate  of  the  morally  diseased. 

If  this  were  true  would  it  be  wise  or  well  to  send  them  broadcast 
among  the  youth?  No;  better  to  suppress  them.  If  a  great  soul,  such 
as  Lincoln^s,  possessed  so  sad  a  frailty  would  it  not  be  kind  and  bene- 
ficial to  obliterate  and  trample  out  of  existence  every  unclean  word? 
But  such  is  not  the  fact. 

I  am  told  by  a  personal  friend  of  Mr.  Lincoln  that  many  of  his  stories 
may  have  been  vulgar  and  coarse,  but  never  obscene  or  lewd.  There 
was  no  taint  upon  his  moral  character  and  no  profanity  or  obscenity 
defiled  the  man. 

The  anecdotes,  jokes  and  unique  illustrations  which  make  up  the 
addenda  to  this  book  have  been  culled  with  great  care,  the  most  of 
them  having  been  related  to  me  by  relatives  and  personal  friends  of 
Mr.  Lincoln. 


JOKES    AND   ANECDOTES- 


A    MUTUAL    AGREEMENT 

A  gunboat  contractor  was  endeavoring  to  impress  upon  Mr.  Lincoln 
the  superiority  of  his  boats  and  made  the  statement  that  they  would 
run  quite  rapidly  in  very  shallow  water.  The  President  replied  in  his 
peculiar  way,  and  with  a  solemn  mien  declared  he  had  no  doubt  but  that 
these  wonderfully  constructed  boats  would  "run  anywhere,  where  the 
ground  was  a  little  moist." 

HOMINY    AN    ANCIENT    FOOD 

While  discussing  the  army  rations  with  Secretary  Seward  a.nd  after 
some  considerable  talk  upon  the  subject,  the  conversation  between  the 
President  and  the  Secretary  of  State  drifted  into  other  channels  and 
the  study  of  Latin  was  thoroughly  canvassed.  During  a  pause  in  the 
conversation  Mr.  Lincoln  remarked:  "I  studied  Latin  once."  "Were 
you  interested  in  it?"  asked  Mr.  Seward. 

"Well,  yes;  I  noted  some  very  curious  things;  for  instance,  the  word 
hominy." 

Mr.  Seward!  looked  at  the  President  and  questioning  his  hearing 
said:  "Did  I  understand  you,  Mr.  Lincoln?  Is  it  hominy  the  food  that 
we  were  recently  talking  about?" 

The  President  very  gravely  replied,  in  the  affirmative,  and  when 
asked  to  explain  gave  the  following  declension  of  the  Latin  noun  homo: 

"Homo — a  man. 

"Hominis — of  man. 

"Homini — for  man. 

"So,  you  see,  Mr.  Seward,  hominy  being  'for  man'  comes  from  the 
Latin." 


292  JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES, 

PRACTICAL    HUMANITY 

When  Abraham  Lincoln  was  but  fifteen  years  of  age  he  displayed 
great  fortitude  of  character  and  a  practical  sympathy  that  ever  after 
characterized  his  life. 

One  evening,  while  returning  from  "a  raising"  in  his  neighborhood, 
accompanied  by  a  number  of  boys  and  young  men,  he  discovered,  stray- 
ing about  riderless,  a  horse  with  saddle  and  bridle  upon  him.  Abraham 
Lincoln  recognized  the  horse  as  belonging  to  a  neighbor  who  indulged 
in  strong  drink.  Suspecting  that  the  owner  was  not  far  away,  he  began 
to  search  for  him  and  soon  discovered  the  hapless  man  all  in  a  heap, 
dead  drunk. 

Abraham's  companions  urged  the  cowardly  policy  of  leaving  the 
wretched  man  to  his  fate,  although  it  was  a  miserably  cold  and  wet  day. 
Young  Lincoln  would  not  listen  to  such  an  unkind  proposition,  but  re- 
quested his  companions  to  assist  him  in  shouldering  the  sot. 
The  drunken  man  was  lifted  to  the  young  Samaritan's  shoulders  and  he 
actually  carried  him  quite  eighty  rods  to  the  nearest  neighbor.  Kealiz- 
ing  that  the  man  wasi  in  a  serious  condition,  Lincoln  sent  word  to  his 
father  that  he  should  not  be  at  home  that  night,  and  the  reason  for  his 
absence.  He  remained  the  entire  night  by  the  drunken  man's  bedside 
and  administered  to  the  sufferer. 

THE    INTERRUPTED    CLUCK 

At  one  time  during  his  boyhood  Abraham  Lincoln  was  obliged  to 
take  his  grist  upon  the  back  of  his  father's  horse,  and  ride  fifty  miles 
to  get  it  ground.  The  mill  was  very  rude  in  construction,  being  pro- 
pelled by  horse-power;  while  the  customers  had  to  wait  their  turn,  with- 
out reference  to  their  distance  from  home,  and  then  use  their  own 
horses  to  work  the  machinery.  On  this  occasion  Abraham,  having  ar- 
rived at  his  turn,  fastened  his  horse  to  the  lever,  and  was  following 
closely  at  its  heels  and  at  the  same  time  urging  the  nag  with  a  switch 
and  clucking  to  her  in  a  merry  manner.  He  administered  a  rather 
vigorous  blow  which  caused  the  heretofore  patient  animal  to  elevate 
its  heels,  and  Abraham  received  a  kick  from  her  which  prostrated  him 


JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES,  293 

and  rendered  him  insensible.  With  the  first  instant  of  returning  con- 
sciousness he  finished  the  cluck  and  remarked  in  his  quaint  way,  though 
only  a  boy,  "Oh,  my!  all  the  stars  in  heaven  came  my  way." 

NEITHER    WAS    DESIRABLE 

During  the  wonderful  oratorical  contest  between  Abraham  Lincoln 
and  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  the  latter  insulted  Mr.  Lincoln  by  suggesting 
that  he  might  like  a  negro  woman  for  his  wife. 

Mr.  Lincoln's  usually  pale  face  flushed  and  in  a  subdued,  but  percep- 
tibly indignant  voice  he  replied:  "I  do  not  wish  to  have  a.  negro  for 
my  wife;  neither  do  I  desire  a  negro  for  my  slave.'' 

A    MISCALCULATION 

On  one  occasion  when  Abraham  Lincoln  was  a  clerk  in  a  country 
store,  at  New  Salem,  111.,  he  made  a  slight  mistake  in  adding  up  a  bill 
of  goods.  The  amount  of  the  bill  according  to  his  reckoning  wa^  three 
dollars  and  ten  cents.  He  received  the  money  and  the  woman  went 
away.  On  adding  the  items  of  the  bill  of  goods  again,  to  make  sure  of 
the  correctness  of  the  sum,  he  discovered  he  had  taken  ten  cents  too 
much.  It  was  night,  and  after  closing  and  locking  the  store,  he  started 
out  on  foot  and  walked,  a  distance  of  nearly  three  miles,  to  the  home  of 
his  defrauded  customer  where  he  paid  over  to  her  the  sum  whose  pos- 
session had  caused  him  so  much  trouble  and  anxiety. 

A    MILITARY    HERO 

The  Blackhawk  War  was  not  a  vei*y  remarkable  affair,  and  Mr.  Lin- 
coln never  spoke  of  it  as  anything  more  than  an  interesting  episode 
in  his  life,  except  upon  one  occasion  when  he  used  it  as  a  means  for 
turning  the  military  pretensions  of  his  colleague  into  ridicule. 

The  friends  of  General  Lewis  Cass,  when  that  gentleman  was  a  can- 
didate for  the  Presidency,  were  endeavoring  to  endow  him  with  a  mili- 
tary reputation.  Mr.  Lincoln  at  that  time  was  a  representative  in  Con- 
gress, and  knowing  how  absurdly  ridiculous  it  was  to  attempt  to  cover 
Mr.  Cass  with  military  glory  delivered  a  speech  which,  in  its  allusions 
to  General  Cass,  was  keenly  sarcastic  and  ridiculously  humorousw 

"By  the  way,  Mr.  Speaker,"  said  Mr.  Lincoln,  "do  you  know  that  I 


294  JOKES   AND   ANECDOTES. 

am  a  military  hero?  Yet  it  is  quite  certain  I  did  not  break  my  sword, 
for  I  had  none  to  break,  but  I  bent  my  musket  pretty  badly  on  one 
occasion.  If  General  Cass  went  in  advance  of  me  in  picking  whortle- 
berries I  guess  I  surpassed  him  in  my  charges  upon  the  wild  onions. 
If  he  saw  any  live,  fighting  Indians,  it  was  more  than  I  did,  but  I  had 
a  good  many  bloody  struggles  with  the  mosquitoes;  and  although  I 
never  fainted  from  loss  of  blood,  I  can  truly  say  I  was  often  very  hun- 
gry." 

A    SELFISH    REASON    FOR    DOING    A    KIND    ACT 

An  amusing  incident  occurred  in  connection  wuth  Mr.  Lincoln^s  "cir- 
cuit riding."  He  w^as  passing  a  deep  slough,  where  he  saw  a  pig  strug- 
gling, and  with  such  little  success,  that  it  was  quite  evident  that  his 
pigship  must  perish  unless  rescued.  Mr.  Lincoln  looked  at  the  pig  and 
the  mud  which  enveloped  it  and  then  glanced  at  his  new  clothes,  which 
he  had  but  just  donned,  and  decided  against  the  claims  of  the  pig.  He 
rode  on,  leaving  the  animal  to  an  untimely  death,  but  the  constantly 
recurring  vision  of  the  pig^s  frantic  endeavor  to  release  himself  could 
not  be  gotten  rid  of,  and  after  riding  two  miles  he  turned  back  deter- 
mined to  rescue  the  poor  piggy.  Arriving  at  the  spot,  he  tied  his 
horse  and  began  immediately  to  build,  of  old  rails,  a  bridge  which 
should  afford  him  passage  to  the  now  discouraged  pig.  Walking  along 
this  rudely  improvised  bridge,  to  the  place  of  imprisonment,  he  seized 
the  pig  and  dragged  him  out.  Washing  his  hands  in  the  brook  and 
wiping  them  on  the  grass  he  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  home.  In  exam- 
ining the  motive  which  actuated  him  to  do  this  kind  but  disagreeable 
act,  he  remarked  to  a  friend  some  years  afterwards,  "I  believe  I  rescued 
the  pig  from  pure  selfishness,  for  I  certainly  went  to  the  pig's  relief  in 
order  to  take  a  pain  out  of  my  own  mind." 

A    BLOODLESS    DUEL 

A  sharp,  sarcastic  poem  appeared  in  the  Sangamon  Journal,  a  paper 
published  at  Vandalia,  111.,  and  edited  by  Mr.  Simeon  Francis.  The 
poem  had  evidently  allusion  to  Mr.  James  Shields  of  Springfield,  111., 
afterwards    a    United    States    Senator.     General    Shields,  instead    of 


JOKES  AND   ANECDOTES.  295 

ignoring  or  laughing  off  the  matter,  demanded  of  Mr.  Francis  the  au- 
thor's name,  and  now  the  editor  was  in  a  great  quandary,  for  the  author 
was  a  young  lady,  and  how  to  escape  from  this  serious  plight  was  a 
question  that  haunted  him  day  and  night.  On  inquiry  among  the  lady's 
friends  he  learned  that  Abraham  Lincoln  was  one  of  her  admirers  and 
possibly  bore  a  tenderer  relation  to  her.  Accordingly  he  went  to  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  confided  in  him  by  explaining  the  trouble.  It  was  quite 
evident  that  somebody  would  be  obliged  to  fight  a  duel  with  Mr.  Shields 
or  be  branded  by  him  as  a  coward;  and  Mr.  Francis,  though  entirely 
responsible  for  the  publication,  was  too  cowardly  to  fairly  and  squarely 
meet  the  issue.  As  soon  as  Mr.  Lincoln  comprehended  the  situation 
and  realized  what  Mr.  Francis  expected  of  him,  he  told  the  editor  that 
if  Mr.  Shields  should  call  again  and  demand  the  author's  name  to  in- 
form him  that  he,  Lincoln,  held  himself  responsible  for  the  poem.  The 
result  was  as  expected  and  Mr.  Lincoln  received  a  challenge  from  Mr. 
Shields. 

Mr.  Lincoln  selected  broadswords  as  the  weapons  for  encounter  and 
immediately  began  to  practice  in  the  exercise  of  fencing. 

The  place  of  meeting  was  Bloody  Island,  a  tract  of  land  on  the  Mis- 
sissippi River  between  Illinois  and  Missouri.  The  meeting  was  accom- 
plished, according  to  arrangements,  but  friends  interfered  and  suc- 
ceeded in  securing  a  reconciliation  between  the  parties. 

In  speaking  of  this  incident  in  after  years  Mr.  Lincoln  stated  to  a 
friend  that  he  selected  broadswords  because  his  arms  were  so  long  and 
because  of  the  length  of  his  arms  he  would  be  able  to  defend  himself, 
while  he  had  not  the  slightest  intention  of  wounding  his  opponent. 

THE    VACILLATING    POLITICAL    OX 

Mr.  Lincoln's  steadfastness  of  purpose  could  brook  no  vacillation 
and  when  a  member  of  the  National  Whig  convention  which  met  at 
Philadelphia  June  18,  1848,  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency, 
Mr.  Lincoln  tried  his  powers  of  opposing  General  Cass  again. 
On  this  occasion  extracts  were  quoted  to  show  how  General 
Cass    had    vacillated  in  his  action  on  the  Wilmot  Proviso  while   Mr. 


296  JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES. 

Lincoln  supplemented  the  following:  "These  extracts  show  that  in  1846 
General  Cass  was  for  the  Proviso  at  once;  that  in  March,  1847,  he  was 
still  for  it;  and  that  in  December  he  was  against  it  altogether.  This 
is  a  true  index  to  the  whole  man.  When  the  question  was  raised  in 
1846  he  was  in  a  blustering  hurry  to  take  ground  for  it;  but  soon  he 
began  to  see  glimpses  of  the  great  Democratic  ex-gad  waving  in  his 
face  and  to  hear  distinctly  a  voice  saying,  *back,  back,  sir;  back  a  lit- 
tle!' He  shakes  his  head,  and  bats  his  eyes,  and  blunders  back  to 
his  position  of  March,  1847;  but  still  the  gad  waves,  and  the  voice  grows 
more  distinct  and  sharper  still — ^back,  sir;  back,  I  say;  further  back/ 
and  back  he  goes  to  the  position  of  December,  1847,  at  which  the  gad 
is  still  and  the  voice  soothingly  says — *so,  stand  still  at  that!' " 

A    LIGHT    WEIGHT 

The  following  is  only  another  illustration  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  scrupu- 
lous conscientiousness.  It  was  during  his  service  as  clerk  in  Denton  Of- 
f utt's  store  at  New  Salem,  111. : 

Late  in  the  evening  a  woman  entered  the  store  and  asked  for  half  a 
pound  of  tea.  The  tea  was  weighed  out  and  paid  for.  The  next  morn- 
ing Abraham  entered  to  begin  the  duties  of  the  day  when  he  discovered 
a  four-ounce  weight  on  the  scales.  He  saw  at  once  that  he  had  made  a 
mistake  and,  shutting  the  store,  took  a  long  walk  before  breakfast  to 
deliver  the  remainder  of  the  tea. 

BORROWED    CIDER 

In  1854,  during  the  "High  Knowing"  excitement  of  that  year,  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  and,  much  to  the  surprise  of 
the  opponents  of  the  Democracy,  they  had  a  majority  of  one  in  the  Leg- 
islature. Here  was  a  chance  for  Mr.  Lincoln  to  secure  a  seat  in  the 
United  States  Senate,  and  his  friends  persuaded  him  to  decline  qualify- 
ing, as  the  Illinois  Constitution  barred  the  election  of  a  member  of 
the  Legislature  to  the  United  States  Senate.  Mr.  Lincoln  complied,  and 
a  new  election  was  called,  he  being  confident  that  an  anti-Democrat 
could  be  chosen  in  his  place.  But  the  Democrats  availed  themselves 
of  this  confidence,  brought  out  no  candidate  publicly,  seemingly  being 


JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES.  297 

willing  to  let  the  election  go  by  default.  But,  lo!  when  the  votes  were 
counted,  one  McDaniel,  a  Democrat,  was  discovered  to  have  been  voted 
for — and,  worse  yet,  he  had  a  majority  of  the  votes!  This  was  a  serious 
blow  to  Mr.  Lincoln's  friends,  who  "took  on"  terribly;  but  when  Mr.  Lin- 
coln heard  the  result  he  te-hee^d  one  of  his  peculiar  laughs  and,  of 
course,  told  a  story.  He  said  he  was  reminded  of  one  of  the  camp-fol- 
lowers of  General  Taylor's  army,  who  had  secured  a  barrel  of  cider, 
erected  a  tent,  and  commenced  dealing  it  out  to  the  thirsty  soldiers  at 
twenty-five  cents  a  drink;  but  he  had  sold  it  but  a  little  while  before 
another  sharp  one  set  up  another  tent  at  his  back  and  tapped  the  barrel 
so  as  to  flow  on  his  side  and  peddled  out  No.  1  cider  at  five  cents  a 
drink,  of  course  getting  the  latter's  trade  entirely  on  borrowed  capital. 
The  Democrats  said  Mr.  Lincoln  had  played  "know  nothing"  on  a 
cheaper  scale  than  the  real  devotees  of  "Sam,"  and  had  raked  down  his 
pile  with  his  own  cider. 

This  incident  was  taken  from  "Raymond's  Life  of  Lincoln. 

THE    POOR    WIDOW 

An  old  woman  of  seventy-five  years,  the  widow  of  a  Kevolutionary 
pensioner,  came  tottering  into  Mr.  Lincoln's  office  one  day  with  a  pitiful 
stor^.  A  certain  pension  agent  had  charged  her  the  exorbitant  fee  of 
two  hundred  dollars  for  collecting  her  fee.  Mr.  Lincoln  believed  her 
story  and  made  up  his  mind  that  she  had  been  swindled.  She  was  very 
poor  and  a  non-resident  of  the  town;  but  the  distinguished  lawyer  gave 
her  some  money  and  immediately  set  about  recovering  part  of  her 
money.  The  suit  was  entirely  successful  and  Mr.  Lincoln's  address  to 
the  jury  before  which  the  case  was  tried  was  peculiarly  touching  in  its 
allusions  to  the  poverty  of  the  widofw  and  the  patriotism  of  her  hus- 
band, who  had  given  his  life  to  secure  the  nation's  independence. 

The  result  was  very  gratifying  to  Mr.  Lincoln  and  he  sent  the 
woman  home  rejoicing  and  with  a  hundred  dollars  in  her  pocket. 

THE  BAREFOOT  BOY 

A  little  incident  occurred  that  illustrated  Mr.  Lincoln's  readiness  in 
turning  a  political  point.    He  was  making  a  speech  at  Charleston,  111., 


298  JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES, 

when  a  voice  called  out:  "Mr.  Lincoln,  is  it  true  that  you  entered  this 
State  barefooted,  driving  a  yoke  of  oxen?''  Mr.  Lincoln  paused  for  a 
moment,  seeming  to  deliberate  whether  he  should  reply  to  the  imperti- 
nent question,  and  then  replied,  that  he  could  prove  that  fact  byi  at 
least  a  dozen  men  in  the  crowd,  any  one  of  whom  was  more  respectable 
than  his  questioner.  This  episode  seemed  to  inspireihim  and  he  went  on 
to  show  what  free  institutions  had  done  for  himself. 

THE    MARVELOUS    BRIDGE 

The  Democratic  convention  had,  after  severe  and  bitter  controversy, 
nominated  Stephen  A.  Douglas  for  the  Presidency,  but  the  anta>gonism 
between  the  Southern  and  Northern  sections  of  the  party  was  irrecon- 
cilable and  it  was  impossible  for  the  two  factions  to  agree  upon  a  plat- 
form or  a  man  who  would  carry  either  section  of  the  country.  Over 
this  state  of  affairs  Mr.  Lincoln  had  his  joke  and  his  "little  story."  "He 
once  knew,"  he  said,  "a  sound  churchman  by  the  name  of  Brown,  who 
was  the  member  of  a  very  sober  and  pious  committee  having  in  charge 
the  erection  of  a  bridge  over  a  dangerous  and  rapid  river.  Several 
architects  failed,  and  at  last  Brown  said  he  had  a  friend, 
named  Jones,  who  had  built  several  bridges  and  could  undoubtedly 
build  that  one.  So  Mr.  Jones  was  called  in.  ^Oan  you  build  this 
bridge?'  inquired  the  committee.  ^Yes,'  replied  Jones,  *or  any  other.  I 
could  build  a  bridge  to  hell  if  necessary.'  The  committee  were  shocked, 
and  Brown  felt  called  upon  to  defend  his  friend.  *I  know  Jones  so  well,' 
said  he,  *and  he  is  so  honest  a  man,  and  so  good  an  architect,  that  if  he 
states  soberly  and  positively  that  he  can  build  a  bridge  to — to — the 
infernal  regions,  why,  I  believe  it;  but  I  feel  bound  to  say  that  I  have 
my  doubts  about  the  abutment  on  the  other  side.'  "So,"  said  Mr.  Lin- 
coln, "when  politicians  told  me  that  the  Northern  and  Southern  wings 
of  Democracy  could  be  harmonized,  why,  I  believed  them,  of  course, 
but  I  always  had  my  doubts  about  the  abutment  on  the  other  side." 

WHAT    IS    YOUR    HEIGHT? 

Judge  Kelly  of  Pennsylvania,  one  of  the  committee  appointed  to  ap- 
prise Mr.  Lincoln  officially  of  his  nomination,  was  a  very  tall  man,  and 


JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES.  299 

while  he  was  waiting  to  be  introduced  to  Mr.  Lincoln  he  had  taken  in 
the  future  President's  immense  height,  by  a  scrutiny  that  had  not  eS' 
caped  Mr.  Lincoln's  quick  eye.  So  when  he  took  the  hand  of  the  judge 
he  inquired:  "What  is  your  height?"  "Six  feet  three,"  replied  the 
judge.  "What  is  yours,  Mr.  Lincoln?"  "Six  feet  four,"  responded  Lin- 
coln. ^^Then,  sir,"  said  the  judge,  "Pennsylvania  bows  to  Illinois.  My 
dear  man,"  he  continued,  "for  years  my  heart  has  been  aching  for  a 
President  that  I  could  look  up  to;  and  I  hope  I  have  found  him  at  last 
in  the  land  where  we  thought  there  were  none  but  little  giants." 

THE    VISION    IN    THE    MIRROR 

The  following  is  from  the  pen  of  Major  John  Hay,  one  of  Mr.  Lin- 
coln's private  secretaries,  and  is  reported  as  nearly  as  possible  in  Mr. 
Lincoln's  own  words. 

"It  was  just  after  my  election  in  1860,"  said  Mr.  Lincoln,  "when  the 
news  had  been  coming  in  thick  and  fast  all  day,  and  there  had  been  a 
great  ^hurrah,  boys!'  so  that  I  was  well  tired  out  and  went  home  to 
rest,  throwing  myself  upon  a  lounge  in  my  chamber.  Opposite  to  where 
I  lay  was  a  bureau  with  a  swinging  glass  upon  it,  and,  looking  in  that 
glass,  I  saw  myself  reflected  nearly  at  full  length;  but  my  face,  I  noticed, 
had  two  separate  and  distinct  images,  the  tip  of  the  nose  of  oaae  being 
about  three  inches  from  the  tip  of  the  other.  I  was  a  little  bothered, 
perhaps  startled,  and  got  up  and  looked  in  the  glass,  but  the  illusion  van- 
ished.  On  lying  down  again  I  saw  it  a  second  time,  plainer,  if  possible, 
than  before;  and  then  I  noticed  that  one  of  the  faces  was  a  little  palef 
— say  five  shades — than  the  other.  I  got  up  and  the  thing  melted  away, 
and  I  went  off  and,  in  the  excitement  of  the  hour,  forgot  all  about  it, — 
nearly,  but  not  quite,  for  the  thing  would  once  in  a  while  come  up  and 
give  me  a  little  pang  as  though  something  uncomfortable  had  hap- 
pened. W^hen  I  went  home  I  told  my  wife  about  it,  and  a  few  days  after 
I  tried  the  experiment  again,  when,  sure  enough,  the  thing  came  back 
again;  but  I  never  succeeded  in  bringing  the  ghost  back  after  that, 
though  I  once  tried  very  industriously  to  show  it  to  my  wife,  who  was 
worried  about  it  somewhat.    She  thought  it  was  *a  sign'  that  I  was  to  be 


300  JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES, 

elected  to  a  second  term  of  office  and  that  the  paleness  of  one  of  the 
faces  was  an  omen  that  I  should  not  see  life  through  the  la^t  term." 

THERE    ARE    EIGHT    IN    ALL 

At  a  party  in  Chicago  shortly  before  Mr.  Lincoln's  departure  for 
SVashington  a  little  girl  timidly  approached  the  great  man  and  paused 
from  utter  embarrassment.  Mr.  Lincoln  called  her  to  him  and  asked 
her  what  she  wanted.  She  replied  that  she  wanted  his  name.  Mr. 
Lincoln  looked  back  into  the  room  and  said:  "But  here  are  other  little 
girls — ^they  would  feel  badly  if  I  should  give  my  name  only  to  you." 
The  little  girl  replied  that  there  were  eight  of  them  in  all.  "Then," 
said  Mr.  Lincoln,  "get  me  eight  sheets  of  paper,  and  a  pen  and  ink,  and 
I  will  see  what  I  can  do  for  you."  The  paper  was  brought,  and  Mr. 
Lincoln  sat  down  in  the  crowded  drawing-room  and  wrote  a  sentence 
upon  each  sheet,  appending  his  name,  and  thus  every  little  girl  carried 

off  her  souvenir.    The  above  was  related  to  me  by  Mrs.  Judge at 

whose  home  Mr.  Lincoln  was  entertained. 

YOUNG  MAN.  COME  UNDER  HERE 

Seated  one  day  in  the  executive  chamber  in  the  State  House  at 
Springfield,  111.,  and  in  conversation  with  a  distinguished  judge,  Mr. 
Lincoln  saw  two  raw,  plainly-dressed  young  "Suckers"  enter  the  room 
and  bashfully  linger  near  the  door.  As  soon  as  he  apprehended  their 
embarrassment  he  rose  and  walked  to  them,  saying,  "How  do  you  do,  my 
good  fellows?  What  could  I  do  for  you?  Will  you  sit  down?"  The 
spokesman  of  the  pair,  the  shorter  of  the  two,  declined  to  sit,  and  ex- 
plained the  object  of  the  call  thus:  He  had  had  a  talk  concerning  the 
relative  height  of  Mr.  Lincoln  and  his  companion,  and  had  asserted  his 
belief  that  they  were  exactly  the  same  height.  He  had  come  in  to 
verify  his  judgment.  Mr.  Lincoln  smiled,  got  his  cane,  and,  placing  the 
end  of  it  upon  the  wall  said,  "Here,  young  man,  come  under  this." 
The  young  man  stepped  under  the  cane,  as  Mr.  Lincoln  held  it,  and 
when  it  was  perfectly  adjusted  to  his  height  Mr.  Lincoln  said:  *^^ow 
come  out  and  hold  up  the  cane."    This  he  did  while  Mr.  Lincoln  stepped 


THE    ASSASSINATION    OF    PRESIDENT    LINCOLN. 
Ford's  Theatre,  Washington,  D.  C,  night  of  April  14th,  1865. 


THB   ESCAPE   OF   THE   ASSASSIN  AND   THE   PANIC    OF    THE   AUDIENCE. 


JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES,  301 

under.  Moving  his  head  back  and  forth  to  be  sure  that  it  worked  easily 
under  the  measurement,  he  stepped  out,  and  declared  to  the  sharp 
young  fellow  that  he  had  guessed  with  remarkable  accuracy — ^that  he 
and  the  young  man  were  of  the  same  height.  Then  he  shook  hands 
with  them  and  kindly  dismissed  them.  Mr.  Lincoln  remarked  to  the 
astonished  gentleman  who  had  witnessed  this  democratic  incident  that 
he  would  sooner  have  cut  off  his  right  hand  than  to  have  made  those 
young  fellows  feel  that  they  had  committed  an  impropriety. 

PUT    BRICKS    IN    HIS    POCKETS 

In  discussing  Secretary  Stanton's  impulsiveness  Mr.  Lincoln  said  to 
a  member  of  his  Cabinet:  "Well,  we  may  have  to  treat  him  as  they 
are  sometimes  obliged  to  treat  a  Methodist  minister  I  know  of  out  West. 
He  gets  wrought  up  to  so  high  a  pitch  of  excitement  in  his  prayers  and 
exhortations  that  they  are  obliged  to  put  bricks  in  his  pockets  to  keep 
him  down.  We  may  be  obliged  to  serve  Stanton  the  same  way,  but  I 
guess  we  will  let  him  jump  awhile  first.'- 

IVHAT    DO    YOU    WANT? 

A  paper  was  handed  to  the  President,  who  read  it  over  carefully  and 
then  remarked:  "Yes,  that  is  a  sufficient  endorsement  for  anybody; 
w^hat  do  you  want?"  The  full  reply  was  not  heard  by  the  listener,  but 
enough  was  caught  to  understand  that  the  promotion  of  some  i>erson 
in  the  army  was  strongly  urged,  and  a  few  minutes  later  the  applicant 
said  in  a  most  sarcastic  tone:  "I  see  there  are  no  vacancies  among  the 
Brigadiers,  from  the  fact  that  so  many  Colonels  are  commanding  bri- 
gades." 

At  this  remark  the  President  threw  himself  forward  in  his  chair  in 
such  a  way  as  to  expose  to  the  lady,  who  was  waiting  an  interview,  the 
most  curious,  comical  expression  of  features  imaginable.  He  was  look- 
ing the  man  squarely  in  the  face,  and,  with  one  hand  softly  patting  the 
other,  and  a  funny  look  pervading  every  line  of  his  countenance,  he 
said:  "My  friend,  let  me  tell  you  something  about  that.  You  are  a 
farmer,  I  believe;  if  not,  you  will  understand  me.    Suppose  you  had  a 


302  JOKES  'AND  ANECDOTES. 

large  cattle-yard,  full  of  all  sorts  of  cattle — cows,  oxen  and  bulls — and 
you  kept  killing  and  selling  and  disposing  of  your  cows  and  oxen,  in  one 
way  and  another,  taking  good  care  of  your  bulls.  By  and  by  you  would 
find  out  that  you  had  nothing  but  a  yard  full  of  old  bulls,  good  for 
nothing  under  heaven.  Now  it  will  be  just  so  with  the  army,  if  I  don't 
stop  making  Brigadier-Generals." 

The  man  was  answered,  and  he  tried  to  laugh;  but  the  effort  was  a 
feeble  one.  Mr.  Lincoln  laughed,  however,  and  laughed  enough  for 
both  parties. 

HOW  NORTHERN  HOSPITALS  WERE  ESTABLISHED 

The  following  long  and  interesting  story  is  taken  from  Holland's 
Life  of  Lincoln  and  is  given  to  demonstrate  how  persistence  will  accom- 
plish and  to  show  how  utterly  exhausted  and  worn  out  the  President 
had  become: 

"A  lady,  the  widow  of  one  who  had  died  while  serving  the  soldiers  of 
the  State  of  which  he  was  the  Governor  called  at  the  White  House. 

After  a  brief  delay  Mrs. was  received  by  Mr.  Lincoln.    He 

was  alone  and  plainly  clad  in  a  suit  of  black  that  fitted  him  poorly.  He 
was  sitting  in  a  folded-up  sort  of  way  in  his  arm  chair.  Nothing  more 
unpretending  could  be  imagined.  As  she  entered,  his  head  was  bent 
forward,  his  chin  resting  on  his  breast,  and  his  hand  holding  the  letter 
she  had  sent  in.    He  made  a  feint  of  rising;  and,  looking  out  from  under 

his  eyebrows,  said  inquiringly,  "Mrs. ?"  She  replied  "Yes,  and  I 

am  very  glad  to  see  you,  Mr.  Lincoln."  He  took  her  hand  and  "hoped  she 
was  well,"  but  gave  no  smile  of  welcome.  She  had  come  on  business 
which  interfered  with  his  policy  and  plans.  He  motioned  her  to  a  chair; 
and  while  he  was  reading  her  letter  she  continued  the  perusal  of  his 
features.  After  he  had  finished  he  looked  up,  ran  his  fingers  through 
his  slightly  silvered  brown  hair  and  with  an  air  of  almost  severity  said : 
"Madame,  this  matter  of  Northern  hospitals  has  been  talked  of  a  great 
deal,  and  I  thought  it  was  settled;  but  it  seems  this  is  not  the  case. 
What  have  you  got  to  say  about  it?"  "Simply  this,"  she  replied,  "that 
many  soldiers,  sick  in  our  Western  army  on  the  Mississippi,  must  have 


JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES  303 

Northern  air  or  die.  If  you  permit  these  men  to  come  North  you  will 
have  ten  men  in  one  year  where  you  have  but  one  now." 

Mr.  Lincoln  could  not  see  the  logic  of  this.  Shrugging  his  shoulders 
and  smiling  in  his  peculiar,  quizzical  way,  he  said:  "If  your  reasoning 
were  correct  your  argument  w^ould  be  a  good  one.  I  don^t  see  how 
sending  one  sick  man  North  is  going  to  give  us  ten  well  ones."  The  lady 
replied:  "You  understand  me,  I  think."  "Yes,  yes,"  said  he,  "I  under- 
stand you;  but  if  they  go  North  they  will  desert,  and  where  is  the  dif- 
ference?" Her  reply  was:  "Dead  men  cannot  fight  and  they  may  not 
desert."  "A  fine  way  to  decimate  the  army,"  exclaimed  the  President. 
We  should  never  get  a  man  back — not  one,  not  one."  "Pardon  me," 
responded  the  lady,  "but  I  believe  that  you  are  mistaken.  They  are  as 
true  and  loyal  to  the  Government  as  yourself.  The  loyalty  is  among  the 
common  soldiers,  and  they  are  the  chief  sufferers."    Mr.  Lincoln  replied: 

"This  is  your  opinion,  Mrs. ,"  said  he,  earnestly.    "How  many  men 

of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  do  you  suppose  the  Government  was  pay- 
ing at  the  battle  of  Antietam?  and  how  many  do  you  suppose  could  be 
got  for  active  service  at  that  time?"  She  replied :  "I  know  nothing  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  except  that  it  has  made  some  noble  sacri- 
fices." "Well,  but  give  a.  guess,"  persisted  the  President.  "Indeed  I 
cannot,"  was  her  answer.  He  threw  himself  awkwardly  around  in  his 
chair,  with  one  leg  over  the  arm,  and  spoke  slowly:  "This  war  might 
have  been  finished  at  that  time  if  every  man  had  been  in  his  place  who 
was  able  to  be  there;  but  they  were  scattered  here  and  there  over  the 
North — some  on  furloughs,  and  in  one  way  and  another  gone,  so  that, 
out  of  one  hundred  and  seventy  thousand  men,  whom  the  Government 
was  paying,  only  eighty-three  thousand  could  be  got  for  action.  The 
consequence,  you  know,  proved  nearly  disastrous."  The  President 
paused  for  a  moment  and  her  answer  came:  "It  was  very  sad,  but — 
but  the  delinquents  were  certainly  not  in  Northern  hospitals,  nor  were 
they  deserters  from  Northern  hospitals,  for  we  have  none;  so  your  argu- 
ment is  not  against  them." 

The  President  appreciated  this  logic  and  replied:  "Well,  well;  you 
go  and  call  on  the  Secretary  of  War  and  see  what  he  says."    He  then 


304  JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES, 

took  the  lady's  letter  and  wrote  on  the  back:    "Admit  Mrs. at 

once.  She  is  a  lady  of  intelligence,  and  talks  sense.  A.  Lincoln."  "May 
I  return  to  you,  Mr.  Lincoln?''  she  inquired.  "Certainly,"  said  he  gently. 
She  was  told  by  the  Secretary  that  he  had  sent  the  Surgeon-General  to 
New  Orleans  with  directions  to  come  up  the  river  and  visit  all  the  hospi- 
tals.   Mrs. had  no  faith  in  these  instructions,  and  told  him  so 

— ^told  him  further,  that  no  good  to  the  Western  soldiers  had  ever 
resulted  from  them.  She  also  indicated  what  she  believed  to  be  the 
reasons  for  the  favorable  reports  from  the  Southern  hospitals  that  had 
uniformly  been  made.  "I  believe,"  said  she,  "that  it  is  because  the  med- 
ical authorities  know  that  the  heads  of  the  departments  are  opposed 
to  establishing  so  far  from  army  lines,  and  report  accordingly.  Can 
nothing  be  done?"  "Nothing  until  the  Surgeon-General  returns,"  he 
replied.  Personally,  he  expressed  himself  in  favor  of  hospitals  in  every 
Northern  State,  but  he  had  to  be  guided  by  the  medical  authorities. 

Mi*s. returned  to  the  President  and  as  he  motioned  her  to  a 

chair  he  inquired  what  the  Secretary  of  War  had  said  to  her.  She  gave 
him  a  full  account  of  the  interview  and  added,  "I  have  nowhere  to  go 
but  to  you."  He  replied,  "Mr.  Stanton  knows  there  is  an  acting  Sur- 
geon-General here  and  that  Hammond  will  not  return  for  two  months. 
I  will  see  the  Secretary  of  War  myself  to-night;  and  you  may  come 
again  in  the  morning."  He  then  dismissed  her  in  the  kindest  manner 
and  with  the  kindest  words. 

In  the  morning  the  lady  returned,  full  of  hope,  expecting  to  be 
greeted  by  the  same  genial  face  and  cordial  manner.  The  President 
raised  his  eyes  as  she  entered  the  room  and  said  "good  morning"  and 
pointed  to  a  chair.  He  was  evidently  annoyed  at  something  which  had 
occurred  during  some  previous  conversation  of  the  morning,  and  waited 
for  her  to  speak.  She  waited  for  him.  "Well,"  said  he  after  a  minute 
of  delay.  "Well,"  replied  his  visitor.  He  looked  up  under  his  eyebrows, 
a  little  startled,  and  inquired:  "Have  you  nothing  to  say?"  "Nothing," 
she  replied,  "until  I  hear  your  decision.  Have  you  decided?  You  know 
you  told  me  to  come  this  morning."    "No,  I  have  not  decided,  and  I 


JOKES  AND  'ANECDOTES,  305 

believe  this  idea  of  Northern  hospitals  is  a  great  humbug,  and  I  am 
tired  of  hearing  about  it." 

The  lady  was  surprised  and  grieved,  but  replied  to  this  seemingly 
unkind  remark  by  saying:  "I  regret  to  add  a  feather^s  weight  to  your 
already  overwhelming  care  and  responsibility.  I  would  rather  have 
stayed  at  home."  With  a  feeble  smile  he  responded:  "I  wish  you  had." 
She  was  earnest,  and  replied:  "Nothing  would  give  me  greater  pleas- 
ure, sir,  but  a  keen  sense  of  duty  to  this  government;  justice  and  mercy 
to  its  most  loyal  supporters'  and  regard  for  your  honor  and  position 
made  me  come.  The  people  cannot  understand  why  their  husbands, 
fathers  and  sons  are  left  to  die  when,  with  proper  care  and  attention, 
they  ought  to  live,  and  yet  do  some  service  for  their  country.  Mr. 
Lincoln,  I  do  believe  you  will  yet  be  grateful  for  my  coming."  Still 
pleading  for  the  sick  soldiers  she  declared  that  the  unfortunate  ones 
would  be  benefited  by  Northern  air  and  Northern  scenery. 

DO    YOU    BELIEVE    ME? 

Mr.  Lincoln's  countenance  expressed  distress,  for  he  was  convinced 
that  she  was  speaking  the  truth.  His  face  contracted  almost  painfully 
as  he  said:  "You  assume  to  know  more  than  I  do."  The  tears  came 
into  the  lady's  eyes  as  she  replied:  "Pardon  me,  Mr.  Lincoln,  I  intend 
no  disrespect,  but  it  is  because  of  this  knowledge,  and  because  I  do 
know  what  you  do  not  know,  that  I  come  to  you.  If  you  believe  in  me 
you  will  give  us  hospitals;  if  not,  well." 

"You  assume  to  know  more  than  surgeons  do,"  said  Mr.  Lincoln 
rather  sharply.  "Oh,  no,"  she  replied,  "I  could  not  perform  an  amputa- 
tion nearly  so  well  as  some  of  them  do.  But  this  is  true:  I  do  not  come 
here  for  your  favor;  I  am  no  aspirant  for  military  favor  or  promotion. 
While  it  would  be  the  pride  of  my  life  to  command  your  respect  and 
confidence,  still  even  this  I  can  waive  to  gain  my  object.  You  will  do 
me  justice  some  time.  I  come  to  you  from  no  casual  inspection,  having 
passed  rapidly  through  the  general  hospitals  with  a  cigar  in  my  mouth 
and  a  rattan  in  my  hand  and  abusing  our  generals  for  not  knowing  and 
performing  their  duty  better.    It  is  not  thus  that  I  have  visited  the  hos- 


306  JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES. 

pitals.  For  eight  long  months — from  early  morning  until  late  at  night 
— I  have  visited  the  regimental  and  general  hospitals  on  the  Mississippi, 
from  Quincy  to  Vicksburg,  and  I  come  to  you  from  the  cots  of  men  who 
have  died,  and  who  might  have  lived  if  you  had  permitted  it.  This  is 
hard  to  say,  but  it  is  true." 

THEY    ARE    NOT    ALL    DEAD 

While  she  was  speaking  the  last  sentence  Mr.  Lincoln's  brow  had 
become  contracted  and  a  pained  expression  had  settled  upon  his  face. 
He  asked  her  how  many  men  her  State  had  sent  to  the  field.  She  replied, 
"fifty  thousand."  "That  means,"  he  responded,  "that  she  has  about 
twenty  thousand  now.  You  need  not  look  so  sober,"  he  continued, 
"they  are  not  all  dead."  The  veins  filled  in  his  face  painfully,  and  one 
across  his  forehead  w^as  fearfully  large  and  blue.  Then,  with  an  impa- 
tient gesture,  he  said:  "I  have  a  good  mind  to  dismiss  them  all  from 
the  service  and  have  no  more  trouble  with  them." 

The  lady  was  astonished,  for  she  knew"  that  he  was  not  in  earnest. 
They  sat  looking  at  one  another  in  silence.  He  had  become  very  pale, 
and  at  last  she  broke  the  silence  by  saying:  "They  have  been  faithful 
to  the  government;  they  have  been  faithful  to  you;  they  will  still  be 
loyal  to  the  government,  do  what  you  will  with  them.  But  if  you  will 
grant  my  petition  you  will  be  glad  as  long  ats  you  live." 

The  President  bowed  his  head  and,  with  a  look  of  sadness,  which 
it  is  impossible  for  language  to  describe,  said:    "I  shall  never  be  glad 

any  more."    "Oh,  do  not  say  so,"  Mrs. exclaimed,  "for  who  will 

have  so  much  reason  to  rejoice  a;S  yourself  when  the  government  shall  be 
restored — as  it  will  be." 

"I  know — I  know,"  he  said,  pressing  a  hand  on  either  side;  "but  the 
springs  of  life  are  wearing  away,  and  I  shall  not  last." 

Mrs. ,  feeling  that  she  had  occupied  too  much  of  his  time,  rose 

to  leave;  and,  as  she  did  so,  said:  "Have  you  decided  upon  your  answer 
to  me?"  "No,"  he  replied,  "come  to-morrow  morning;  stop,  it  is  cabinet- 
meeting  to-morrow.     Yes,  come  at  twelve  o'clock;   there  is  not  much 


^^ 


JOKES  AND   ANECDOTES.  307 

for  the  cabinet  to  do  to-morrow."  Then  he  bade  his  visitor  a  cordial 
good  morning  and  she  retired. 

When  Mrs. called  the  next  forenoon  the  President  sent  her 

word  that  the  cabinet  would  soon  adjourn  and  that  she  must  wait.  For 
three  long  hours  she  waited,  receiving  occasional  messages  from  Mr. 
Lincoln. 

The  cabinet  had  adjourned.  The  President  did  not  send  for  her,  but 
came  shuffling  into  the  room,  rubbing  his  hands,  and  saying:  "My  dear 
madame,  I  am  sorry  I  have  kept  you  waiting  so  long,  but  we  have  this 
moment  adjourned."  "My  waiting  is  no  matter,"  she  replied,  "but  you 
must  be  very  tired  and  we  will  not  talk  to-night."  Bidding  her  to  a  seat, 
she  having  risen  as  he  entered,  he  sat  down  at  her  side  and  quietly 
remarked:  "I  only  wish  to  say  to  you  an  order  which  is  equivalent  to 
the  granting  of  a  hospital  in  your  State  has  been  issued  from  the  War 
Department  nearly  twenty-four  hours." 

The  lady  could  make  no  reply  except  through  the  tears  that  sprang 
at  once.  Mr.  Lincoln  looked  on  and  enjoyed  it.  When,  at  last,  she 
could  command  her  voice,  she  said,  "God  bless  you."  Then,  as  doubts 
came,  touching  the  nature  of  the  order,  she  said  earnestly:  "Do  you 
mean,  really  and  truly,  that  we  are  going  to  have  a  hospital  now?" 
With  a  look  full  of  benevolence  and  tenderness  he  said:    "I  do  most 

certainly  hope  so."    Mrs.  was  too  much  affected  to  talk;   and 

perceiving  this  he  kindly  changed  the  subject,  asking  her  to  look  at  a 
map  which  hung  in  the  room,  representing  the  great  battle-grounds  of 
Europe.  "It  is  a  very  fine  map,"  said  he;  "see — here  is  Waterloo,  here 
are  all  the  battle-fields  about  the  Crimea."  Then  suddenly  turning  to 
the  lady,  he  said:  "Fm  afraid  you  will  not  like  it  so  well  when  I  tell 
you  who  executed  it."  She  replied:  "It  is  a  great  work,  whoever  exe- 
cuted it.  Who  was  it,  Mr.  President?"  "McOellan,"  he  answered,  and 
added:  "He  certainly  did  do  this  well.  He  did  it  while  he  was  at  West 
Point." 

YOU  ALMOST  THINK  I  AM  HANDSOME 

The  next  morning,  sick  with  the  excitement  through  which  she  had 
passed,  the  lady  was  at  the  White  House  again.    She  found  more  than 


308  JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES, 

fifty  persons  waiting  for  an  audience,  so  she  sent  in  her  name,  and  said 
she  would  call  again.  Mr.  Lincoln,  however,  sent  word  by  the  messen- 
ger that  he  would  see  her  very  soon. 

A  little  later  afterward  as  she  passed  into  the  President's  private 
office  she  heard  these  words  from  the  waiting  throng:  "She  has  been 
here  six  days;  and,  what  is  more,  she  is  going  to  win."  As  she  entered, 
Mr.  Lincoln  smiled  pleasantly,  drew  a  chair  to  his  side,  and  said :  "Come 
here  and  sit  down."  As  she  did  so  he  handed  her  a  copy  of  the  coveted 
order.  She  thanked  him  and  after  some  conversation  concerning  the 
naming  of  the  hospital  the  lady  rose  and  said:  "You  will  not  wish  to 
see  me  again."  "I  did  not  say  that,  and  I  shall  not  say  it,"  said  the 
President.  "You  have  been  very  kind  to  me,  and  I  am  very  grateful  for 
it,"  said  his  visitor.  He  looked  up  at  her  from  under  his  eyebrows  in  his 
peculiar  way  and  said:  "You  almost  think  I  am  handsome,  don't  you?" 
His  face  was  full  of  benevolence,  and  his  countenance  lighted  by  a  cor- 
dial smile;  it  is  not  strange  that  the  lady  exclaimed:  "You  are  perfectly 
lovely  to  me  now,  Mr.  Lincoln."  The  President  colored  a  little  and 
laughed  a  good  deal  at  the  impulsive  response,  and  reached  out  his 
hand  to  bid  her  farewell.  She  took  it  reverently,  bowed  her  head  upon 
it,  prayed :  "God  bless  you,  Abraham  Lincoln."  Then  she  turned,  heard 
his  "good  bye"  and  was  gone. 

THE    OCCASIONAL    VENT 

During  the  doubts  and  disasters  of  1862  a  member  of  Congress 
called  on  Mr.  Lincoln  for  an  interview  concerning  a  serious  topic,  when 
he  began  to  tell  a  trifling  story.  "Mr.  President,"  said  the  Congressman, 
rising,  "I  did  not  come  here  this  morning  to  hear  stories.  It  is  too 
serious  a  time."  The  smile  fled  from  Mr.  Lincoln's  face  as  he  replied: 
"D.  sit  down ;  I  respect  you  as  an  earnest  and  sincere  man.  You  cannot 
be  more  anxious  than  I  am  constantly,  and  I  say  to  you  now,  that  if 
it  were  not  for  this  occasional  vent  I  should  die." 

CHARLES    LOST    HIS    HEAD 

There  was  an  earnest  desire  for  peace  on  both  sides  without  doubt, 
but  Mr.  Lincoln  could,  with  truth  to  himself  and  honor  to  his  country, 


JOKES  AND   ANECDOTES.  309 

make  peace  only  on  certain  essential  conditions;  and  in  negotiations 
for  peace  he  could  not  recognize  another  government  instead  of  the  one 
of  which  he  alone  was  President.  "That,"  said  he,  speaking  to  Mr. 
R.  M.  T.  Hunter,  representing  the  rebel  confederacy,  "would  be  what 
you  so  long  asked  Europe  to  do  in  vain,  and  we  resigning  the  only  thing 
the  Union  armies  are  fighting  for."  To  this  Mr.  Hunter  replied  that  the 
recognition  of  Davis'  power  to  make  a  treaty  was  the  first  and  indispen- 
sable step  to  peace;  and  to  illustrate  this  point  he  referred  to  the 
correspondence  between  King  Charles  the  First  and  his  Parliament  as 
a  reliable  precedent  of  a  constitutional  ruler  treating  with  rebels. 

At  this  point  Mr.  Lincoln's  face  wore  that  indescribable  expression 
which  generally  preceded  his  hardest  hits,  and  he  remarked:  "Upon 
questions  of  history  I  must  refer  you  to  Mr.  Seward,  for  he  is  posted  in 
Buch  things,  and  I  don't  profess  toi  be;  my  only  distinct  recollection  of 
the  matter  is  that  Charles  lost  his  head." 

ROOT    HOQ«    OR    DIB 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  discussing  the  slavery  question  with  the  same  Mr. 
Hunter  when  the  latter  gentleman  remarked  that  the  slaves,  always 
accustomed  to  work  upon  compulsion,  under  an  overseer,  would,  if 
suddenly  freed,  precipitate  not  only  themselves!  but  the  entire  society 
of  the  South  into  irremediable  ruin.  No  work  would  be  done,  but  blacks 
and  whites  would  starve  together.  The  President  waited  for  Mr.  Sew- 
ard to  answer  the  argument,  but  as  that  gentleman  hesitated  he  said: 
"Mr.  Hunter,  you  ought  to  know  a  great  deal  better  about  this  matter 
than  I,  for  you  have  lived  under  the  slave  system.  I  can  only  say,  in 
reply  to  your  statement  of  the  case,  that  it  reminds  me  of  a  man  out 
in  niinois  by  the  name  of  Case,  who  undertook  a  few  years  ago  to  raise 
a  very  large  herd  of  hogs.  It  was  a  great  trouble  to  feed  them;  and 
how  to  get  around  this  was  a  puzzle  to  him.  At  length  he  hit  upon 
the  plan  of  planting  an  immense  field  of  potatoes;  and,  when  they  were 
sufficiently  grown,  he  turned  the  whole  herd  into  the  field  and  let  them 
have  full  swing,  thus  saving  not  only  the  labor  of  feeding  the  hogs,  but 
that  also  of  digging  the  potatoes."    Charmed  with  his  sagacity,  he  stood 


310  JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES, 

one  day  leaning  against  the  fence,  counting  his  hogs,  when  a  neighbor 
came  along.  ^Well,  well,'  said  he,  ^Mr.  Case,  this  is  all  very  fine. 
Your  hogs  are  doing  very  well  just  now;  but  you  know  out  here  in 
Illinois  the  frost  comes  early,  and  the  ground  freezes  a  foot  deep.  Then 
what  are  you  going  to  do?'  This  was  a  view  of  the  matter  which  Mr. 
Case  had  not  taken  into  consideration.  Butchering  time  for  hogs  was 
aAvay  on  in  December  or  January.  He  scratched  his  head  and  at  length 
stammered:  *Well,  it  may  come  pretty  hard  on  their  snouts,  but  I 
don't  see  but  it  will  be  root  Jiog  or  die!^  " 

WOULD    HAVE    DIED    LONG    AGO 

In  speaking  of  a  prominent  politician  whose  good  character  was 

defiled  by  a  great  personal  vanity  he  said:    "If  General  had 

known  how  great  a  funeral  he  would  have  had  he  would  have  died 
long  ago." 

NO    VICES.    FEW    VIRTUES 

A  father  called  upon  Mr.  Lincoln  and  pressed  his  son's  claims  for 
promotion.  Something  in  Mr.  Lincoln  made  the  parent  fear  an  appoint- 
ment was  not  forthcoming,  and  in  order  to  present  the  young  man  in 
the  most  favorable  light  he  said:  "My  son  has  no  vices."  Mr.  Lincoln 
looked  at  the  man  steadily  for  a  moment  and  then  quietly  remarked: 
"I  have  always  observed  that  a  man  who  has  no  vices  has  blamed  few 
virtues." 

"DON^T    WRITE" 

Secretary  of  the  Treasury  remarked  to  Mr.  Lincoln  that  he  was  sorry 
that  he  had  not  written  to  Mr.  B.  before  he  left  home. 

Mr.  Lincoln  promptly  responded:  "Chase,  never  regret  what  you 
don't  write;  it  is  what  you  do  write  that  you  are  often  called  upon  to 
feel  sorry  for." 

A    NEAT    TURN 

It  was  a  very  warm  day  and  the  small  court-room  was  crowded, 
and  the  lawyers  on  both  sides  had  removed  their  coats  and  vests.  At 
that  time  shirts  buttoned  behind  were  something  unusual  in  the  locality 
in  which  Mr.  Lincoln  lived,  and  as  he  observed  his  opponent's  shirt  was 


JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES,  311 

fastened  in  that  manner  he  took  advantage  of  the  fact  and  thought  he 
would  use  it  against  his  brother  lawyer,  for  he  began  to  feel  confident 
that  he  was  getting  worsted  by  the  city  lawyer. 

Knowing  the  prejudices  of  the  country  people  against  anything  that 
savored  of  what  they  called  pretense  or  affectation,  he  addressed  the 
jury  as  follows:  "Gentlemen  of  the  jury,  having  justice  on  my  side  I 
don't  think  you  will  be  at  all  influenced  by  the  gentleman's  pretended 
knowledge  of  the  law  when  you  see  he  does  not  even  know  which  side 
of  his  shirt  should  be  in  front."  There  was  great  hilarity  among  the 
country  folk  and  Lincoln  won  his  case.  The  above  was  related  to  m€ 
by  Mrs.  Ficklin  of  Charleston,  111. 

THE    SHORT    ATHLETE 

In  the  fall  of  1859  Mr.  Lincoln  made  a  speech  at  the  Wisconsin  State 
Agricultural  Fair,  after  which  he  strolled  about  the  fair  grounds  with 
the  Governor  of  the  State. 

Mr.  Lincoln,  who  had  never  seen  such  an  exhibition  before,  was 
greatly  interested  in  the  jugglery  of  the  strong  man,  who  was  holding 
cannon  balls  on  his  arms  and  tossing  them  about.  Looking  at  the  jug- 
gler and  apparently  wondering  how  so  short  a  man  could  exhibit  such 
feats  of  strength  he  accosted  him  and  said:  "Why,  I  could  lick  salt 
off  the  top  of  your  hat." 

HOW    BIG    IS    THE    TRUNK? 

A  lady  who  lived  in  Springfield  when  a  young  girl  and  was  near 
neighbor  to  Mr.  Lincoln  relates  the  following  story  as  illustrative  of  his 
unusual  kindness: 

She  had  planned  to  take  a  trip  on  the  cars,  which  was  a  great  event 
in  her  life;  but  somehow  the  hackman  had  failed  to  call  for  her  and 
her  trunk  and  the  time  for  departure  was  nearing  rapidly.  Beginning 
to  fear  that  she  would  be  left  she  stepped  out  of  the  house  and  peered 
anxiously  down  the  street.  Mr.  Lincoln,  coming  along,  noticed  her 
perturbation  and  asked  the  cause  of  her  alarm. 

She  told  her  story,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  said:  "How  big  is  your  trunk? 
There  is  still  time  if  it  isn't  too  big." 


312  JOKES  AND   ANECDOTES. 

"I  took  him  up  to  my  room  where  my  little  old-fashioned  trunk  was 
standing,"  she  said. 

"Oh,  ho,"  he  exclaimed,  "wipe  your  eyes  and  come  quick." 

He  seized  the  trunk,  lifted  it  to  his  shoulders  and  strode  out  of  the 
house.  Down  the  street  he  went,  his  long  limbs  carrying  him  along  at 
a  rapid  rate. 

We  reached  the  station  in  time,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  helped  me  on  to 
the  train,  kissed  me  good  bye  and  told  me  to  have  a  good  time. 


rr 


I    NEVER    HAD    A    POLICY^' 


Governor  John  M.  Palmer  of  Illinois  called  upon  Mr.  Lincoln  in 
February  of  1865  and  was  admitted  at  once,  although  the  President 
iv^as  in  the  hands  of  the  barber. 

Calling  out  to  the  Governor,  he  said,  "Come  in,  you^re  home  folks.  I 
don't  mind  being  shaved  before  you." 

After  chatting  for  some  time  upon  various  subjects  Governor  Palmer 
remarked:  "If  anyone  had  told  me  that  in  a  great  crisis  like  this  the 
people  w^ere  going  out  to  a  little  one-horse  town  and  pick  out  a  one- 
horse  lawyer  for  President  I  wouldn^t  have  believed  it." 

Mr.  Lincoln  whirled  about  in  his  chair,  his  face  white  with  lather, 
a  towel  under  his  chin.  At  first  Governor  Palmer  thought  he  was 
angry,  but  brushing  the  barber  aside  he  gazed  into  his  old  friend^s  face 
and  said: 

"Neither  would  I.  It  was  a  time  when  a  man  with  a  policy  would 
have  been  fatal  to  the  country.  I  never  had  a  policy.  I  have  simply 
tried  to  do  what  seemed  best  as  each  day  came." 

I    RATHER    GUESS    NOT 

A  man  by  the  name  of  Thompson  had  been  giving  the  government 
considerable  trouble,  and  Charles  A.  Dana,  Assistant  Secretary  of  War, 
who  had  heard  that  the  obnoxious  party  was  about  to  escape  to  Liver- 
pool, called  upon  Mr.  Lincoln  to  tell  him  of  the  anticipated  departure. 

It  was  after  business  hours  when  Mr.  Dana  was  received  by  the 
President,  who  was  washing  his  hands.    Looking  up  from  his  ablutions 


JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES.  313 

he  called  out,  "Hello,  Dana,  what  is  it  now?"  "The  Provost  Marshal  of 
Portland,"  said  Mr.  Dana,  "reports  that  Jacob  Thompson  is  to  be  in 
town  to-night,  and  inquires  what  orders  we  have  to  give."  "What  does 
Stanton  say,"  he  asked.  "Arrest  him,"  replied  Mr.  Dana.  "Well," 
drawled  out  the  President,  "I  rather  guess  not.  When  you  have  an 
elephant  on  your  hands,  and  he  wants  to  run  away,  better  let  him  run." 

WHAT    NETS?      BAYOU-NETS 

A  Southern  sympathizer  was  eating  at  the  same  hotel  table  with 
Mr.  Lincoln,  and  recognizing  him  by  his  portrait  made  a  remark  that 
was  intended  for  the  President's  ears,  although  pretending  not  to  know 
him. 

"You  can't  do  anything  with  them  Southern  fellows,"  said  the  old 
man.  "If  they  get  whipped  they'd  retreat  to  them  Southern  swamps 
and  bayous  along  with  the  fishes  and  crocodiles.  You  hain't  got  the 
fish  nets  made  that'll  catch  'em." 

"Look  here,  old  gentleman,"  the  President  remarked,  "we've  got  just 
the  nets  for  traitors  in  the  bayous  or  anywhere!" 

"Hey!    What  nets?" 

"Bayou-nets,"  and  Mr.  Lincoln  gave  a  practical  illustration  by  spear- 
ing his  food  savagely  with  his  fork. 

HOW    TO    GET    RID    OF    A    GOVERNOR 

A  Governor  of  one  of  the  Western  States  went  to  Mr.  Lincoln  one 
day  in  a  terrible  rage,  and  in  relating  the  fact  to  a  friend  some  few 
days  thereafter  the  friend  suggested  that  he  had  of  course  to  grant  his 
request. 

"Oh,  no,"  Mr.  Lincoln  replied,  "I  did  not  concede  anything.  You 
have  heard  how  the  Illinois  farmer  got  rid  of  a  big  log  that  wa^  too  big 
to  haul  out,  too  knotty  to  split,  and  too  wet  and  soggy  to  bum.'* 

"Well  now,"  said  he  in  response  to  the  inquiries  of  his  neighbors  one 
Sunday  as  to  how  to  get  rid  of  it,  "Well  now,  boys,  if  yon  won't  divulge 
the  secret  I'll  tell  you  how  I  got  rid  of  it — I  ploughed  around  if 

Mr.  Lincoln,  in  conclusion,  then  said,  "Don't  tell  anybody,  but  that's 


314  JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES, 

the  way  I  got  rid  of  Governor .    I  ploughed  all  round  him,  but  it 

took  me  three  mortal  hours  to  do  it,  and  I  was  afraid  every  minute  he'd 
see  what  I  was  at/' 


as 


HE^S    GOT    IT" 


Upon  a  certain  occasion  when  Mr.  Lincoln,  with  some  members  of 
his  cabinet,  was  out  some  distance  from  Washington  Secretary  Stanton 
remarked  that  in  the  hurry  of  departure  he  had  not  had  time  to  consult 
the  President  in  regard  to  a  telegram  received  from  General  Mitchell, 
who  was  in  Alabama,  but  had  taken  upon  himself  the  liberty  of  reply- 


ing. 


It  seems  that  General  Mitchell  had  asked  instructions  in  regard  to 
a  certain  emergency  case  that  had  arisen,  and  the  Secretary  of  War, 
not  understanding  the  exact  nature  of  the  contingency,  had  replied  to 
the  telegram,  "all  right;  go  ahead." 

After  having  explained  the  matter  Mr.  Stanton  turned  to  Mr.  Lin- 
coln and  said:  "Mr.  President,  if  I  have  made  an  error  in  not  under- 
standing him  correctly  I  will  have  to  get  you  to  countermand  the 
order." 

"Well,  that  is  very  much  like  the  happening  on  the  occasion  of  a 
certain  horse  sale  I  remember  which  took  place  at  the  cross-roads  down 
in  Kentucky  when  I  was  a  boy,"  and  proceeding  further  the  President 
related  the  incident: 

"A  particularly  fine  horse  was  to  be  sold  and  the  people  in  large 
numbers  had  gathered  together.  They  had  a  small  boy  to  ride  the 
horse  up  and  down  while  the  spectators  examined  the  horse^s  points. 

"At  last  one  man  whispered  to  the  boy  as  he  went  by:  ^Look  here, 
boy,  hain't  that  horse  got  the  splints?' 

"The  boy  replied:  ^Mister,  I  don't  know  what  the  splints  is^  but 
if  it's  good  for  him  he  has  got  it;  if  it  ain't  good  for  him  he  ain't  got  it.' " 

"Now,"  said  Mr.  Lincoln,  "if  this  was  good  for  Mitchell  it  was  all 
right,  but  if  it  was  not  I  have  got  to  countermand  it."  General  Fitzpat- 
rick  is  authority  for  the  above. 


JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES,  315 

DO    NOT    LOSE    SELF-OONTROL 

Mr.  Lincoln's  life  was  a  wonderful  and  marvelous  example  of  self- 
control.  Despite  abuse  and  calumny  and  falsehood  he  maintained  a 
serene  demeanor  and  even  greeted  his  enemies  with  a  kind  and  cordial 
welcome.  His  whole  career  from  childhood  to  the  day  of  his  translation 
was  an  exemplification  of  his  most  quoted  saying,  "With  malice  toward 
none,  with  charity  for  all."  During  his  administration  it  became  his 
painful  duty  to  reprimand  a  young  army  officer,  who  had  been  court- 
martialed  for  a  quarrel  with  one  of  his  associates,  and  in  the  following 
words  he  addressed  him: 

"Quarrel  not  at  all.  No  man  resolved  to  make  the  most  of  himself 
can  spare  time  for  personal  contention.  Still  less  can  he  afford  to  take 
all  the  consequences,  including  the  vitiating  of  his  temper  and  the  loss 
of  self-control. 

"Better  give  your  path  to  a  dog  than  be  bitten  by  him  in  contesting 
for  the  right.    Even  killing  the  dog  would  not  cure  the  bite." 

GIVE    THE    REBS    A    OHANOE 

A  Universalist  minister,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Shrigley  of  Philadelphia,  had 
been  nominated  for  hospital  chaplain  when  a  protesting  committee 
called  upon  the  President  and  asked  him  to  withdraw  the  nomination. 
Mr.  Lincoln  was  quite  surprised  and  asked  for  the  cause  of  this  peculiar 
request. 

The  answer  came.  "Mr.  Shrigley  is  not  sound  in  his  theological 
opinions." 

"On  what  question  is  the  gentleman  unsound,"  Mr.  Lincoln  then 
demanded. 

"He  does  not  believe  in  endless  punishment,"  replied  the  chairman 
of  the  committee,  and  not  only  so,  sir,  but  he  believes  that  even  the 
rebels  themselves  will  be  finally  saved." 

"Is  that  so?"  inquired  the  President.  To  which  inquiry  the  commit- 
tee in  chorus  responded  "yes,  yes." 

"Well,  gentlemen,  if  that  be  so,  and  there  is  any  way  under  heaven 


S16  JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES. 

whereby  the  rebels  can  be  saved,  then  for  God's  sake,  and  their  sakes, 
let  the  man  be  appointed/' 

The  result  of  this  conference  really  enhanced  the  reverend  gentle- 
man's claims.  He  was  appointed  by  the  President  and  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war. 

THEY    WILL    SQUEAL 

It  is  quite  the  fashion  of  many  men  folks  to  let  the  world  know, 
that  in  doing  their  duty,  they  are  having  a  mighty  hard  time,  and  when 
one  of  the  Northern  Generals,  who  was  always  complaining  against  the 
methods  of  raising  troops,  had  so  annoyed  the  Adjutant-General  that 
he  conferred  with  Mr.  Lincoln  and  asked  him  how  he  should  reply  to 
Governor  — -^ — 's  remonstrances,  Mr.  Lincoln  passed  the  matter  over 
Avith  very  little  concern  and  said  to  the  Adjutant-General: 

"Never  mind,  never  mind,  those  dispatches  don't  mean  anything. 
Just  go  right  ahead.  The  Governor  is  like  a  boy  I  once  saw  at  a  launch- 
ing. When  everything  was  ready  they  picked  out  a  boy  and  sent  him 
under  the  ship  to  knock  away  the  trigger  and  let  her  go. 

"At  the  critical  moment  everything  depended  on  the  boy.  He  had 
to  do  the  job  well  by  a  direct,  vigorous  blow,  and  then  lie  flat  and  keep 
still  while  the  boat  slid  over  him. 

"The  boy  did  everything  right,  but  he  yelled  as  if  he  were  being  mur- 
dered from  the  time  he  got  under  the  keel  until  he  got  out.  I  thought 
the  hide  was  all  scraped  off  his  back,  but  he  wasn't  hurt  at  all. 

"The  master  of  the  yard  told  me  that  this  boy  was  always  chosen 
for  that  job;  that  he  did  his  work  well;  that  he  never  had  been  hurt, 
but  that  he  always  squealed  in  that  way. 

"That's  just  the  way  with  Governor .    Make  up  your  mind 

that  he  is  not  hurt,  and  that  he  is  doing  right,  and  pay  no  attention  to 
his  squealing.  He  only  wants  to  make  you  understand  how  hard  his 
task  is,  and  that  he  is  on  hand  per-forming  it." 

RESPECT    FOR    THE    EGGS 

A  sleight-of-hand  performer  being  present  at  a  boat  launching  which 
Mr.  Lincoln  attended  was  asked  to  give  an  exhibition  of  his  powers;  and 


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VIEWING    LINCOLN'S    REMAINS. 

City  Hall,  New  York  City. 


JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES,  317 

when  Mr.  Lincoln  hesitated  about  sending  his  hat  up  to  the  improvised 
platform  on  which  the  performer  stood,  as  a  receptacle  for  the  cooked 
eggs,  he  explained  by  saying :  The  delay  was  occasioned  "out  of  respect 
for  the  eggs,  and  not  care  for  the  hat." 

PRAISED    HIS    OPPONENT 

It  was  quite  a  common  occurrence  for  rival  candidates  to  tour  their 
district  together,  and  so  during  the  campaign  which  preceded  Mr.  Lin- 
coln's election  to  the  Legislature  he  and  his  opponent  had  many  pleas- 
ant rides  in  company. 

Upon  one  occasion,  in  addressing  a  gathering  of  farmers,  Abraham 
Lincoln  was  lavish  in  his  praise  of  the  opposing  candidate.  He  said: 
"I  am  too  poor  to  own  a  carriage,  but  my  friend  ha>s  generously  invited 
me  to  ride  with  him.  I  want  you  to  vote  for  me  if  you  will;  but  if  not 
then  vote  for  my  opponent,  for  he  is  a  fine  man." 

No  doubt  politicians  will  consider  the  above  method  a  queer  way 
of  securing  votes;  but  then  Mr.  Lincoln  never  did  anything  as  other 
men  did. 

"DON'T    BE    IN    A    HURRY,    BOYS" 

President  Lincoln  failed  to  catch  the  train  which  was  to  take  him 
and  a  party  of  friends  to  New  York.  The  failure  on  the  part  of  Mr. 
Lincoln  to  reach  the  station  in  time  caused  much  dissatisfaction  among 
the  members  of  the  party;  but  Mr.  Lincoln  took  the  situation  good- 
humoredly  and  of  course  told  a  story.  He  began:  "Out  in  Illinois  a 
convict  who  had  murdered  his  cell-mate  was  sentenced  to  be  hanged. 
On  the  day  set  for  the  execution  crowds  lined  the  roads  leading  to  the 
spot  where  the  scaffold  had  been  erected,  and  there  was  much  jostling 
and  excitement. 

"The  condemned  man  took  matters  coolly,  and  as  one  batch  of  per- 
spiring, anxious  men  rushed  past  the  cart  in  which  he  was  riding  he 
called  out,  'Don't  be  in  a  hurry,  boys^  you've  got  plenty  of  time.  There 
won't  be  any  fun  until  I  get  there.' 

"That  is  the  condition  of  things  now%"  concluded  the  President. 
"There  won't  be  any  fun  at  New  York  until  I  get  there." 


518  JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES. 

YOU'LL    SEE    IT    AGAIN 

A  young  attorney  who  was  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  ease  met  Mr. 
Lincoln  in  the  streets  of  Bloomingtoin,  111.,  and  when  he  was  accosted 
by  the  future  President,  who  asked  how  the  jury's  verdict  stood,  said: 
"I've  lost  the  case  and  it  has  gone  to  hell."  To  which  vigorous  remark 
Mr.  Lincoln  replied;    "Oh,  well,  then  you  will  see  it  again." 

DO    I    LOOK    NICE? 

Mr.  Liicoln  was  not  handsome,  in  fact  very  plain  looking,  and  Mrs. 
Lincoln  knew  it;  but  yet  she  liked  to  have  him  as  presentable  as  pos- 
sible, so  when  a  distinguished  delegation  wa«  sent  out  from  New  York 
to  receive  the  President  upon  his  entrance  into  the  city  Mrs.  Lincoln 
felt  considerable  anxiety  for  her  husband's  personal  appearance,  and 
just  before  the  train  stopped  took  out  her  handbag  and  said:  "Abraham, 
I  must  fix  you  up  a  bit  for  these  city  folks." 

Mr.  Lincoln  lifted  her  to  a  seat  that  she  might  be  able  to  reach  him, 
while  she  put  his  hair  into  good  condition  and  arranged  his  necktie. 
After  she  had  finished  the  hasty  toilet  he  bestowed  upon  her  an  affec- 
tionate caress  and  remarked,  "Do  I  look  nice  now,  mother?"  "Well, 
you'll  do,  Abraham,"  replied  the  proud  wife. 

TAD^S  REBELLION 

Mr.  Carpenter,  the  well-known  photographer  of  Washington,  had 
been  engaged  to  take  some  views  of  the  President's  office,  and  in  select- 
ing a  room  to  be  m^ed  as  a  dark  closet  the  photographer  appropriated 
one  that  Tad  had  had  fitted  up  for  a  theatre. 

After  one  or  two  views  had  been  secured  Tad  concluded  that  his 
dignity  was  infringed  upon,  because  he  had  not  been  consulted  in 
regard  to  the  selection  of  the  improvised  "dark  room,"  and  immediately 
proceeded  to  assert  his  rights  by  locking  the  door  and  putting  the  key 
in  his  pocket. 

The  President,  who  was  sitting  for  a  picture,  was  rather  surprised 
that  the  artist  should  remain  out  so  long,  when  suddenly  Mr.  Carpen- 
ter came  into  the  room  hurriedly  and  told  Mr.  Lincoln  what  Tad  had 


JOKES  AND   ANECDOTES,  319 

done.    In  a  mild,  persuasive  tone  the  father  asked  his  boy  to  unlock  the 

door.    But  the  young,  rebellious  fellow  refused  to  obey  and  went  off 

into  his  mother's  room.    After  waiting  patiently  a  short  time  for  the 

boy  to  return  or  to  relent  and  unlock  the  door  the  President  inquired 

how  things  were  coming  out.     The  photographer  reported  that  the 

young  man  was  still  obdurate.    Mr.  Lincoln  rose  from  his  chair  and 

compressing  his  lips  disappeared  within  the  sanctity  of  hisi  private 

rooms  and  in  a  short  time  returned  with  the  key  which  had  been  the 

cause  of  so  much  excitement. 

"Tad,"  said  he,  "is  a  peculiar  child.    He  was  violently  excited  when 

I  went  to  him,  but  I  said:    ^Tad,  do  you  know  that  you  are  making  your 

father  a  great  deal  of  trouble?'    He  burst  into  tears,  instantly  giving 

me  the  key." 

A  TITLE  SHAN^T  HURT  YOU 

An  Austrian  Count,  having  been  introduced  to  the  President  by 
the  Minister  Plenipotentiary  of  his  country,  proceeded  to  dwell  upon 
his  aristocratic  birth  as  being  a  most  important  reason  for  his  appoint- 
ment to  the  army. 

Mr.  Lincoln  listened  attentively  to  the  young  man's  recommendation 
and  then  slapping  him  familiarly  on  the  shoulder  said:  "Never  mind, 
you  shall  be  treated  with  just  as  much  consideration  for  all  that.  I 
will  see  to  it  that  your  bearing  a  title  shan't  hurt  you." 

EXTREMES    OFTEN    MEET 

Though  Abraham  Lincoln  and  Stephen  A.  Douglas  were  rivals  in 
love  and  rivals  in  politics  yet  they  remained  the  best  of  friends,  and 
when  they  were  in  Congress  they  were  often  seen  upon  the  street  to- 
gether, though  they  made  a  most  comical  appearance.  "Long  Abe"  was 
the  tallest  man  in  Congress  and  the  "Little  Giant"  the  shortest  man. 

Lincoln  was  often  joked  about  the  matter,  but  always  replied  in  a 
serious  tone:    "Yes,  that's  about  the  length  and  breadth  of  it." 

DON^T  YOU  WANT  TO  SEE  THE  HOG? 

The  following  story  was  related  by  Lincoln  to  a  morbid  and  foolish 
curiosity-seeker,  who  imagined  that  he  could  secure  a  pass  in  order 


320  JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES. 

to  inspect  the  battlefield  of  Bull's  Run  the  day  succeeding  the  first  battle. 

After  gazing  at  the  man  for  a  moment  and  greatly  amazed  at  his 
effrontery  Lincoln  told  him  the  following  story: 

"A  man  in  Cortlandt  county,  N.  Y.,  raised  a  porker  of  such  unusual 
size  that  strangers  went  out  of  their  way  to  see  it. 

"One  of  them  one  day  met  the  old  gentleman  and  inquired  about  the 
animal. 

*•  ^Wall,  yes,'  the  old  fellow  said,  ^I've  got  such  a  critter,  mi'ty  big 
'un;  but  I  guess  I'll  have  to  charge  you  about  a  shillin'  for  lookin'  at 
him.' 

"The  stranger  looked  at  the  old  man  for  a  minute  or  so,  pulled  out 
the  desired  coin,  handed  it  to  him  and  started  to  go  off.  ^Hold  on,' 
said  the  other,  *don't  you  w^ant  to  see  the  hog?' 

"  ^No,'  said  the  stranger,  ^I  have  seen  as  big  a  hog  as  I  w^ant  to  see.' 

"And  you  will  find  that  fact  the  case  with  yourself,  if  you  should 
happen  to  see  a  few  live  rebels  there  as  well  as  dead  ones." 

SMALL    FAVORS    THANKFULLY    RECEIVED 

Dr.  Sunderland,  a  prominent  physician,  but  very  short  of  stature, 
called  upon  Mr.  Lincoln  and  urged  him  to  issue  the  Emancipation 
Proclamation.  It  was  on  New  Year's  day,  and  after  the  Doctor  had 
introduced  himself  immediately  proceeded  to  say:  "I  have  come,  Mr. 
President,  to  anticipate  the  New  Year  with  my  respects,  and  if  I  may 
say  to  you  a  word  about  the  serious  condition  of  this  country." 

The  Doctor  was  so  short  that  he  had  to  nearly  throw  his  head  over 
on  to  his  back  in  order  to  see  the  President's  face.  With  a  most  quiz- 
zical smile  the  President  replied  to  the  little  man: 

"Go  ahead,  Doctor,  every  little  helps." 

COULDN^T   ACT   WITHOUT   ASKING 

There  were  a  certain  number  of  generals  who  could  do  nothing 
without  the  advice  of  the  President.  One  commander  in  particular  had 
so  little  self-reliance  that  he  telegraphed  upon  the  slightest  pretext.  At 
last  the  President  became  so  annoyed  with  him  that  he  said  to  Secretary 


JOKES  AND   ANECDOTES.  321 

Stanton  in  referring  to  this  over-cautious  general:  "He  reminds  me 
of  a  story  I  once  heard  about  a  Tammany  man,"  and  straightway  pro- 
ceeded to  tell  the  following  anecdote: 

"He  happened  to  meet  a  friend,  also  a  member  of  Tammany,  on 
the  street,  and  in  the  course  of  the  talk  a  friend,  who  was  beaming  with 
smiles  and  good  nature,  told  the  other  Tammanyite  that  he  was  going 
to  be  married. 

"The  first  Tammany  man  looked  more  serious  than  men  usually  do 
upon  hearing  of  the  impending  happiness  of  a  friend.  In  fact  his  face 
seemed  to  take  on  a  look  of  anxiety  and  worry. 

"  ^Ain^t  you  glad  to  know  that  I'm  to  get  married?'  demanded  the 
second  Tammanyite,  somewhat  in  a  huff. 

"'Of  course  I  am,'  was  the  reply;  but,  putting  his  mouth  close  to 
the  ear  of  the  other,  said:    'Have  ye  asked  Morrissey  yet?' 

"Now,  this  general  of  whom  w^e  are  speaking  v/ouldn't  dare  to  order 
out  the  guard  without  asking  Morrissey,"  concluded  the  President. 

THEY  LOOKED  GOOD  AND  SORRY 

There  were  people  and  delegations  of  people  who  called  upon  Mr. 
Lincoln,  but  were  never  able  to  obtain  an  interview  because  he  knew 
he  was  unable  to  grant  their  requests.  In  order  to  save  himself  trouble 
and  annoyance  he  knew  that  to  avoid  seeing  them  was  the  quickest  and 
best  way  out  of  the  matter. 

But  one  day  some  gentlemen  from  Kentucky,  who  had  as  yet  been 
unable  to  secure  an  audience  with  Mr.  Lincoln,  were  about  to  give  up 
and  leave  without  having  accomplished  their  mission  when  they  were 
met  in  the  lobby  by  Tad,  a  boy  then  eleven  years  old,  who  overheard 
them  make  some  uncomplimentary  remark  about  "Old  Abe"  and  dis- 
cussed among  themselves  the  fact  that  they  had  been  unable  to  secure 
an  audience. 

Tad  asked  them  if  they  were  particularly  anxious  to  see  "Old  Abe," 
and  to  their  replies  informed  them  that  if  they  would  wait  a  minute  he^d 
see  what  he  could  do.  Rushing  into  his  father's  office  he  said,  "Papa> 
may  I  introduce  some  friends  to  you?" 


333  JOKES  AND   'ANECDOTES. 

Mr.  Lincoln  replied  in  the  affirmative,  for  he  was  never  able  to  say 
nay  to  his  children,  whereupon  Tad  found  the  Kentuckians  and  told 
them  that  he  had  arranged  an  interview. 

Asking  the  most  dignified-looking  gentleman  his  name  he  told  him 
to  come  on  and  bring  his  friends  with  him.     Leading  them  up  to  the 

President  he  said,  "Papa,  let  me  introduce  to  you  Judge  of 

Kentucky,"  and  added,  "Now,  Judge,  you  introduce  the  other  gentle- 
men." 

Mr.  Lincoln  at  once  realized  that  these  were  the  very  gentlemen 
which  he  had  been  avoiding  for  the  past  week;  but  he  took  Tad  upon 
his  lap,  kissed  him,  and  told  the  little  man  that  it  was  all  right,  and 
that  he  had  introduced  his  friends  like  a  gentleman. 

Some  time  afterwards  it  seems  that  he  asked  Tad  why  he  called 
those  gentlemen  his  friends.  "Well,"  said  Tad,  "I  had  seen  them  so 
often,  and  they  looked  so  good  and  sorry,  and  said  they  were  from  Ken- 
tucky, that  I  thought  they  must  be  our  friends."  "That  is  right,  my  son," 
said  Mr.  Lincoln;  "I  would  have  the  whole  human  race  your  friends 
and  mine,  if  it  were  possible." 

WITH  A  SMALL  Q 

It  is  said  by  some  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  biographers  that  when  he  was 
quite  a  young  man  he  was  known  to  spell  God  with  a  small  g.  When 
he  was  told  of  it  afterward  the  President  immediately  replied:  "Well, 
that  reminds  me  of  a  little  story,"  and  forthwith  he  related  the  follow- 
ing: 

"It  came  about  that  a  lot  of  Confederate  mail  was  captured  by  the 
Union  forces,  and,  while  it  was  not  exactly  the  proper  thing  to  do,  some 
of  our  soldiers  opened  several  letters  written  by  the  Southerners  to 
their  people  at  home.  In  one  of  these  missives  the  writer,  in  a  post- 
script, jotted  down  this  assertion: 

"  ^We'll  lick  the  yankees  to-morrer,  if  godlemity  spares  our  lives.' 

"That  fellow  was  in  earnest,  too,  as  the  letter  was  written  the  day 
before  the  second  battle  of  Manassas." 


JOKES  AND   'ANECDOTES.  323 

WON^T  DO   FOR  OLD   FRIENDS 

Mr.  Lincoln,  during  the  first  year  of  his  administration,  experienced 
many  difficulties  in  trying  to  wear  the  prescribed  kid  gloves;  but  after 
many  annoying  and  ludicrous  attempts  to  wear  them  he  abandoned  the 
attempt,  and  at  all  public  receptions  appeared  with  his  hands  bare. 

The  following  is  one  of  the  many  incidents  which  illustrates  a  kid 
glove  episode: 

It  was  with  great  difficulty  that  he  "pulled"  on  a  pair  of  tight-fitting 
white  kids,  and  at  this  particular  reception  an  old  friend  from  Sanga- 
mon county.  111.,  called  to  pay  his  respects  to  the  President.  When  the 
Illinoisan  was  presented  and  Mr.  Lincoln  recognized  the  old  acquaint- 
ance (Simpson  by  name)  he  welcomed  him  with  a  genuine  hearty  West- 
ern hand-shake,  which  was  so  vigorous  that  his  kid  glove  split  from 
top  to  bottom.  Mr.  Lincoln  looked  at  the  ruined  kid  for  a  moment, 
then  pulling  off  the  rent  glove  and  raising  his  brawny  hand,  cried  out, 
in  so  loud  a  tone  that  the  entire  procession  stopped  to  hear  what  he 
haxi  to  say:  "Well,  my  old  friend,  this  is  a  general  justification.  You 
and  I  were  never  intended  to  wear  these  things.  If  they  were  stronger 
they  might  do  well  enough  to  keep  out  the  cold,  but  they  are  a  failure  to 
shake  hands  with  between  old  friends  like  us." 

WASN^T  AFRAID  FOR  HIMSELF 

When  Mr.  Lincoln  returned  from  Richmond  and  was  greeted  by  a 
member  of  the  Cabinet,  who  told  him  how  uneasy  he  had  been  for  his 
safety  during  his  absence,  the  President  replied:  "Why,  if  any  one 
else  had  been  President  and  had  gone  to  Richmond  I  would  have  been 
alarmed;  but  I  was  not  scared  about  myself  a  bit." 

LINCOLN'S  DEFINITION 

Governor  Saunders  of  Nebraska,  in  a  conversation  with  Mr.  Lincoln, 
incidentally  mentioned  a  settlement  in  his  State  which  was  situated 
on  the  banks  of  a  stream  called  "Weeping  Water.''  "Weeping  Water," 
said  Mr.  Lincoln,  "I  suppose  the  Indians  call  it  Minneboohoo,  don't 
they?    They  ought  to,  if  Laughing  Water  is  Minnehaha  in  their  Ian- 


324  JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES. 

guage.'^    A  friend  of  the  Governor's  vouches  for  the  truth  of  this  little 

gem. 

ASKING  HELP  FROM  THE  HELPLESS 

It  seems  that  General  McClellan  was  not  only  incompetent,  but 
appeared  to  be  constantly  calling  for  help,  and  incessantly  annoyed 
the  President  vrith  telegrams  asking  for  assistance,  advice  and  counsel. 
A  particularly  appealing  message  so  annoyed  and  disgusted  the  Presi- 
dent that  he  remarked  to  a  number  of  his  Cabinet:  ^^It  seems  to  me 
that  McClellan  has  been  wandering  around  and  has  sort  of  got  left, 
lie's  been  hollering  for  help  ever  since  he  went  South,  and  wants  some- 
body to  come  to  his  deliverance  and  get  him  out  of  the  place  he's  got 
into. 

"He  reminds  one  of  a  story  of  a  man  out  in  Illinois,  who,  in  company 
with  a  number  of  friends,  visited  the  State  penitentiary.  They  wan- 
dered all  through  the  institution  and  saw  everything,  but  just  about 
the  time  to  depart  this  particular  man  became  separated  from  his 
friends  and  couldn't  find  his  way  out. 

"He  roamed  up  and  down  one  corridor  after  another,  becoming 
more  desperate  all  the  time,  when,  at  last,  he  came  across  a  convict 
who  was  looking  out  from  between  the  bars  of  his  cell-door.  Here  was 
salvation  at  last.    Hurrying  up  to  the  prisoner  he  hastily  asked: 

"  *Say,  how  do  you  get  out  of  this  place?' " 

IT^S  ALL  HE^S  GOT  IN  THE  WORLD 

The  following  is  only  another  number  added  to  the  list  of  incidents 
which  illustrate  Mr.  Lincoln's  great  kindness  of  heart: 

When  the  town  of  Petersburg,  111.,  was  platted  the  surveying  was 
done  by  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  some  twenty  years  afterward  the  prop- 
erty-owners had  difficulty  in  correctly  establishing  the  boundary  lines. 
A  recourse  to  the  official  plat  did  not  unravel  the  difficulty,  and  after 
a  meeting  of  the  citizens  whose  property  was  involved  in  the  tangle 
it  was  decided  to  send  a  committee  to  Springfield  to  consult  the  now 
distinguished  surveyor.  But  Mr.  Lincoln  could  give  them  no  relief,  as 
all  remembrance  of  the  transaction  had  passed  from  his  mind.    He 


JOKES  AND   ANECDOTES.  335 

referred  the  committee  to  the  records  as  the  only  proof  of  the  trans- 
action. 

The  matter  was  taken  up  in  the  courts,  and  while  the  trial  was  pend- 
ing an  old  Irishman  named  McGuire,  hearing  of  the  dispute,  promptly 
said :  *'I  can  tell  you  all  about  it.  I  helped  carry  the  chain  when  Abe 
Lincoln  laid  out  this  town.  Over  there  where  they  are  quan^eling  about 
the  lines,  when  he  was  locating  the  street  he  straightened  up  from  his 
instrument  and  said:   ^If  I  run  that  street  right  through  it  will  cut 

three  or  four  feet  off  the  end  of 's  house.    It's  all  he's  got  in  the 

world,  and  he  never  would  get  another.  I  reckon  it  won't  hurt  anything 
out  here  if  I  skew  the  line  and  miss  him.' "  Governor  Palmer  of  Illi- 
nois when  telling  the  above  incident  said :  "That's  not  made  up,  either." 

I^LL    FIND    THE    TRACKS 

It  is  related  by  Judge  Herndon,  of  Springfield,  Mr.  Lincoln's  law 
partner,  that  he  never  saw  his  friend  look  more  cheerful  than  on  the 
day  before  his  departure  for  Washington,  and  when  his  old  law  asso- 
ciate remarked  to  him,  "I  believe  it  will  do  you  good  to  get  down  to 
Washington."  The  President-elect  replied:  "I  know  it  will.  I  only 
wish  I  could  have  got  there  to  lock  the  door  before  the  horse  was 
stolen.    But  when  I  g^t  to  the  spot  I  can  find  the  tracks." 

nVI  MAKING  GENERALS  NOW 

Mr.  H.  C.  Witney  relates  the  following  conversation  which  he  had 
with  Mr.  Lincoln  during  the  first  year  of  his  administration,  and  in 
substance  says:  "I  was  in  Washington  for  a  few  days  in  behalf  of  the 
Indian  service.  This  was  just  previous  to  August,  1861,  and  I  merely 
said  to  President  Lincoln  one  day:  ^Everything  is  drifting  into  the  war 
and  I  guess  you  will  have  to  put  me  into  the  army.' 

"The  President  looked  up  from  his  work  and  replied  good-humoredly : 
<I'm  making  Generals  now;  in  a  few  days  I  will  be  making  quartermas- 
ters, and  then  I'll  fix  you.' " 

I  KIN  MANAGE  MY  OWN  AFFAIRS 

It  is  stated  that  when  the  Lincoln  family  moved  from  Indiana  and 
located  near  Decatur,  Illinois,  that  Abe  Lincoln  carried  along  a  line  of 


326  JOKES   AND   ANECDOTES. 

notions,  expecting  to  dispose  of  them  to  good  advantage  while  en  route 
to  the  new  home. 

It  was  during  a  debate  among  the  members  of  the  Cabinet  upon  a 
serious  international  problem  that  Mr.  Lincoln  referred  to  the  following 
episode  which  occurred  in  connection  with  the  above  notion  enterprise: 

The  meeting  was  rather  heated  and  the  President,  being  in  the 
minority,  found  himself  in  a  hole,  so  to  speak,  from  which  he  could  not 
extricate  himself  in  a  hurry,  and,  in  order  to  gain  time  and  put  off  the 
ultimate  decision  or  action,  he  related  the  following  apt  story: 

"Gentlemen,"  said  he,  addressing  those  seated  at  the  Cabinet  table, 
"the  situation  just  now  reminds  me  of  a  fix  I  got  into  some  thirty  years 
ago,  when  I  was  peddling  notions  on  the  way  from  Indiana  to  Illinois. 
I  didn't  have  a  large  stock,  but  I  charged  large  prices,  and  I  made 
money.    Perhaps  you  don't  see  what  I  am  driving  at." 

It  is  said  that  the  members  of  his  Cabinet  were  so  thoroughly  dis- 
gusted with  what  seemed  to  them  entirely  out  of  place  at  such  a  critical 
juncture  thait  they  hardly  replied  to  the  President's  question,  but  simply 
resigned  themselves  to  the  inevitable  story. 

"I  don't  propose  to  argue  this  matter,"  the  President  went  on  to  say, 
'because  arguments  have  no  effect  upon  men  whose  opinions  are  fixed 
and  whose  minds  are  made  up^  But  this  little  story  of  mine  will  make 
some  things  which  are  in  the  dark  show  up  more  clearly." 

"Just  before  we  left  Indiana  and  crossed  into  Illinois,"  continued 
Mr.  Lincoln,  "we  came  across  a  small  farm-house  full  of  nothing  but 
children.  These  ranged  in  years  from  seventeen  years  to  seventeen 
months,  and  all  were  in  tears.  The  mother  of  the  family  was  red- 
headed and  red-faced,  and  the  whip  she  held  in  her  right  hand  led  to 
the  inference  that  she  had  been  chastising  her  brood.  The  father  of 
the  family,  a  meek-looking,  mild-mannered,  tow-headed  chap,  was  stand- 
ing in  the  front  doorway  awaiting — ^to  all  appearances — his  turn  to 
feel  the  thong. 

"I  thought  there  wasn't  much  use  in  asking  the  head  of  that  house 
if  she  wanted  any  notions.  She  was  too  busy.  It  was  evident  an  insur- 
rection had  been  in  progress,  but  it  was  pretty  well  quelled  when  I  got 


JOKES  AND   'ANECDOTES.  327 

there.  The  mother  had  about  suppressed  it,  with  an  iron  hand,  but  she 
was  not  running  any  risks.  She  kept  a  keen  and  wary  eye  upon  all  the 
children,  not  forgetting  an  occasional  glance  at  the  old  man  in  the 
doorway. 

"She  saw  me  as  I  came  up  and  from  her  look  I  thought  she  was  of 
the  opinion  that  I  intended  to  interfere.  Advancing  to  the  doorway, 
and  roughly  pushing  her  husband  aside,  she  demanded  my  business. 

"^Nothing,  madam,'  I  answered  as  gently  as  possible.  ^I  merely 
dropped  in  as  I  came  along  to  see  how  things  were  going.' 

"  ^Well,  you  needn't  wait,'  was  the  reply  in  an  irritated  way ;  ^there's 
trouble  here,  and  lots  of  it,  too,  but  I  kin  manage  my  own  affairs  with- 
out the  help  of  outsiders.  This  is  just  a  family  row,  but  I'll  teach  these 
brats  their  places  if  I  have  to  lick  the  hide  off  ev'ry  one  of  them.  I 
don't  do  much  talkin',  but  I  run  this  house,  an'  I  don't  want  no  one 
sneakin'  round  trying  to  find  out  how  I  do  it,  either.' " 

"That's  the  case  here  with  us,"  the  President  continued.  "We  must 
let  the  other  nations  know  that  we  propose  to  settle  our  family  row 
in  our  own  way,  and  teach  these  brats  (the  seceding  States)  if  w^e  have 
to  lick  the  hide  off  of  each  and  every  one  of  them.  And,  like  the  old 
woman,  we  don't  want  any  ^sneakin'  round'  by  other  countries  who 
would  like  to  find  out  how  we  are  to  do  it,  either." 

"Now,  Mr.  Seward,"  said  the  President,  "you  write  some  diplomatic 
notes  to  that  effect."  This  very  apt  illustration  was  rehearsed  by  a 
lady  who  told  me  that  Secretary  Wells  was  the  authority  for  it. 

HAD    A    CAMPAIGN    OF    HIS    OWN 

In  a  conversation  with  Major-General  Garfield,  who  afterward  be- 
came President  of  the  United  States^  Mr.  Lincoln  said  to  him:  "By  the 
way,  Garfield,  do  you  know  that  Chase,  and  Stanton,  and  General  Wool 
and  I  had  a  campaign  of  our  own?  We  went  down  to  Fortress  Monroe 
in  Chase's  revenue  cutter  and  consulted  with  Admiral  Goldsborough 
on  the  feasibility  of  taking  Norfolk  by  landing  on  the  North  shore  and 
proceeding  to  the  town  only  eight  miles  away?  The  Admiral  said  there 
was  no  landing  on  that  shore,  and  we  should  have  to  double  the  cape, 


3^8  JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES. 

and  approach  the  place  from  the  south  side,  which  would  be  a  long 
journey  and  a  difficult  one.  I  asked  him  if  he  had  ever  tried  to  find  a 
landing,  and  he  replied  that  he  had  not  I  then  told  him  a  story  of  a 
fellow  in  Illinois  who  had  studied  law,  but  had  never  tried  a  case.  He 
was  sued,  and,  not  having  confidence  in  his  ability  to  manage  his  own 
case,  employed  a  lawyer  to  manage  it  for  him.  He  had  only  a  confused 
idea  of  the  meaning  of  law  terms,  but  he  was.  anxious  to  make  a  display 
of  learning,  and,  on  the  trial,  constantly  made  suggestions  to  his  lawyer, 
who  paid  but  little  attention  to  him.  At  last,  fearing  that  his  lawyer 
was  not  handling  the  opposing  counsel  very  well,  he  lost  all  his  patience, 
and,  springing  to  his  feet,  cried  out,  'Why  don't  you  go  at  him  with  a 
capias  or  a  surre-butter  or  something,  and  not  stand  there  like  a  con- 
founded old  nudum-poctuno?'  'Now,  Admiral,'  said  I,  'if  you  don't 
know  that  there  is  no  landing  on  the  North  shore  I  want  you  to  find 
out' '' 

In  continuing  the  account  of  this  narrative  Mr.  Lincoln  said :  "The 
Admiral  took  the  hint,  and  taking  Chase  and  Wool  along  with  a  com- 
pany or  two  of  marines,  he  went  on  a  voyage  of  discovery,  and  Stanton 
and  I  remained  at  Fortress  Monroe.  That  night  we  went  to  bed,  but 
not  to  sleep,  for  we  were  very  anxious  for  the  fate  of  the  expedition. 
About  two  o'clock  the  next  morning  I  heard  the  heavy  tread  of  W^ool 
ascending  the  stairs.  I  went  out  into  the  parlor  and  found  Stanton 
hugging  Wool  in  a  most  enthusiastic  manner,  as  he  announced  that  he 
had  found  a  landing,  and  had  captured  Norfolk." 

A    PRICELESS    TREASURE 

Though  Abraham  Lincoln  was  looked  upon  by  his  early  associates 
and  later  by  his  confreres  as  a  lazy  man,  yet  the  following  account 
taken  from  the  Boston  Advertiser  shows'  that  when  not  engaged  in 
weighty  law  problems  his  hands  were  not  idle,  but  quite  as  busy  as  his 
brain: 

"Occupying  an  ordinary  and  commonplace  position  in  one  of  the 
show-ease«  in  the  large  hall  of  the  Patent  Office  is  one  little  model 
which,  in  ages  to  come,  will  be  prized  as  at  once  one  of  the  most  curious 


JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES,  329 

and  one  of  the  most  sacred  relics  in  that  vast  museum  of  unique  and 
priceless  things.  This  is  a  plain  and  simple  model  of  a  steamboat, 
roughly  fashioned  in  wood,  by  the  hand  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  It  bears 
date  in  1849,  when  the  inventor  was  known  simply  as  a  successful  law- 
yer and  rising  politician  of  Central  Illinois.  Neither  his  practice  nor 
his  politics  took  up  so  much  of  his  time  as  to  prevent  him  from  giving 
much  attention  to  contrivances  which  he  hoped  might  be  of  benefit  to 
the  world  and  of  profit  to  himself. 

"The  design  of  this  invention  is  suggestive  of  one  phase  of  Abraham 
Lincoln's  early  life,  Avhen  he  went  up  and  down  the  Mississippi  as  a 
flatboatman,  and  became  familiar  with  some  of  the  dangers  and  incon- 
veniences, attending  the  navigation  of  the  Western  rivers.  It  is  an 
attempt  to  make  it  an  easy  matter  to  transport  vessels  over  shoals  and 
snags  and  sawyers.  The  main  idea  is  that  of  an  apparatus  resembling 
a  noiseless  bellows,  placed  on*  each  side  of  the  hull  of  the  craft,  just 
below  the  water-line,  and  worked  by  an  odd  but  not  complicated  system 
of  ropes,  valves,  and  pulleys.  When  the  keel  of  the  vessel  grates  against 
the  sand  or  obstruction,  these  bellows  are  to  be  filled  with  air;  and, 
thus  buoyed  up,  the  ship  is  expected  to  float  lightly  and  gayly  over  the 
shoal,  which  would  otherwise  have  proved  a  serious  interruption  to  her 
voyage. 

"The  model,  which  is  about  eighteen  or  twenty  inches  long,  and  has 
the  air  of  having  been  whittled  with  a  knife  out  of  a  shingle  and  a  cigar- 
box,  is  built  without  any  elaboration  or  ornament,  or  any  extra  appara- 
tus beyond  that  necessary  to  show  the  operation  of  buoying  the  steamer 
over  the  obstructions.  Herein  it  differs  from  very  many  of  the  models 
which  share  with  it  the  shelter  of  the  immense  halls  of  the  Patent 
Office,  and  which  are  fashioned  with  wonderful  nicety  and  exquisite 
finish,  as  if  much  of  the  labor  and  thought  and  affection  of  a  lifetime 
had  been  devoted  to  their  construction.  This  is  a  model  of  a  different 
kind;  carved  as  one  might  imagine  a  retired  rail-splitter  would  whittle, 
strongly,  but  not  smoothly,  and  evidently  made  with  a  view  solely  to 
convey,  by  the  simplest  possible  means,  to  the  minds  of  the  patent  au- 
thorities, an  idea  of  the  purpose  and  plan  of  the  simple  invention.    The 


330  JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES. 

label  on  the  steamer^s  deck  informs  us  that  the  patent  was  obtained; 
but  we  do  not  learn  that  the  navigation  of  the  Western  rivers  was  revo- 
lutionized by  this  quaint  conception.  The  modest  little  model  has 
reposed  here  sixteen  years;  and  since  it  found  its  resting-place  here  on 
the  shelf,  the  shrewd  inventor  has  found  it  his  task  to  guide  the  ship 
of  state  over  shoals  more  perilous,  and  obstructions  more  obstinate, 
than  any  prophet  dreamed  of  when  Abraham  Lincoln  wrote  his  bold 
autograph  on  the  prow  of  this  miniature  steamer." 

HE   NEVER  CAN  BE  PRESIDENT 

It  was  during  the  great  and  memorable  debate  that  when  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  preparing  certain  questions  which  he  proposed  to  pro- 
pound to  the  "Little  Giant"  that  some  of  his  friends  urged  him  not 
to  corner  Douglas  on  a  certain  point,  because  he  would  surely  stand 
by  his  doctrine  of  Squatter  Sovereignty  in  defiance  of  the  Dred  Scott 
decision,  "and  that,'^  said  they,  "will  make  him  Senator."  "That  may 
be,"  said  Mr.  Lincoln,  "but  if  he  takes  that  shoot  he  never  can  be  Presi- 
dent." 

Mr.  Lincoln's  keen  perception  did  not  fail  him  here.  The  position 
which  Douglas  took  of  "unfriendly  legislation,"  was  an  obstacle  which 
he  was  never  able  to  overcome. 

I  SHALL  SEE  nAY  BOY  AGAIN 

One  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  favorite  diversions  was  reading  Shakspeare, 
whom  he  rendered  with  great  emphasis  and  feeling.  One  day  as  he  sat 
reading  alone,  he  called  to  his  aide  in  the  adjoining  room,  "Colonel, 
come  in  here;  I  want  to  read  you  a  passage  in  Hamlet."  He  then  read 
the  discussion  on  ambition  between  Hamlet  and  his  courtiers,  and  the 
soliloquy  which  followed.  This  was  followed  by  passages  from  Macbeth. 
Then  opening  to  King  John,  he  read  from  the  third  act  the  passage  in 
which  Constance  bewails  her  lost  boy.  Closing  the  book  and  repeating 
the  words: 

"And,  father  cardinal,  I  have  heard  you  say 
That  we  shall  see  and  know  our  friends  in  heaven; 
If  that  be  true,  I  shall  see  my  boy  again" — - 


JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES.  831 

Mr.  Lincoln  said:  "Colonel,  did  you  ever  dream  of  a  lost  friend,  and 
feel  that  you  were  holding  sweet  communion  with  that  friend,  and  yet 
have  a  sad  consciousness  that  it  was  not  a  reality? — just  so  I  dream  of 
my  boy  Willie."  Overcome  with  emotion,  he  dropped  his  head  on  the 
table,  and  sobbed  aloud. 

NOT    DEAD    YET 

When  a  telegraphic  dispatch  from  Cumberland  Gap  reached  Mr. 
Lincoln  that  "firing  was  heard  in  the  direction  of  Knoxville,"  he  is 
reported  as  having  said :  "I  am  glad  of  it."  A  gentleman  who  was  pres- 
ent, and  had  in  his  mind  the  thought  of  the  danger  and  peril  of  a  certain 
general  who  was  a  personal  friend,  remarked,  that  he  could  not  see 
why  Mr.  Lincoln  was  glad. 

"Why,  you  see,"  replied  the  President,  "it  reminds  me  of  Mistress 
Sallie  Ward,  a  neighbor  of  mine,  who  had  a  large  family.  Occasionally 
one  of  her  numerous  progeny  would  be  heard  crying  in  some  out-of-the- 
way  place,  upon  which  Mrs.  Ward  would  exclaim,  *There^s  one  of  my 
children  that  isn't  dead  yet.' " 


fV 


I  INTEND  TO  GO  WITH  MY  OOLORS  FLYING" 


In  August,  1864,  the  President  called  for  five  hundred  thousand 
more  men,  and  the  Presidential  election  was  not  far  away.  Many  of 
Mr.  Lincoln's  friends  thought  that  another  call  for  troops  would  injure 
his  re-election,  and  one  of  them  hinted  as  much  to  Mr.  Lincoln.  "As  to 
my  re-election,"  the  President  remarked,  "it  matters  not.  We  must 
have  the  men.  If  I  go  down>  I  intend  to  go  like  the  Cumberland — with 
my  colors  flying." 

A    TURN    ABOUT 

"On  Mr.  Lincoln's  reception-day,  after  the  nomination,"  wrote  Theo- 
dore Tilton,  in  a  letter  to  the  Independent,  "his  face  wore  an  expression 
of  satisfaction  rather  than  elation.  His  reception  of  Mr.  Garrison  was 
an  equal  honor  to  host  and  guest.  In  alluding  to  our  failure  to  find  the 
old  jail,  he  said,  ^Well,  Mr.  Garrison,  when  you  first  went  to  Baltimore, 
you  couldn't  get  out;  but  the  second  time,  you  couldn't  get  in.' " 


332  JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES. 

A    DISCREPANCY 

A  friend  reported  to  Mr.  Lincoln  that  some  of  the  influential  poli- 
ticians were  finding  fault  with  him  because  certain  generals  were  not 
given  commands.  ^'The  fact  is,"  replied  Mr.  Lincoln,  "I  have  got  more 
pegs  than  I  have  holes  to  put  them  in." 

DON'T  CROSS  THE  BRIDGE 

A  preacher  from  Springfield,  111.,  called  upon  the  President,  and  in 
the  course  of  conversation  asked  him  what  was  to  be  his  policy  on  the 
slavery  question.  "Well,"  said  the  President,  "I  will  answer,  by  telling 
you  a  story.  You  know  Father  B.,  the  old  Methodist  preacher?  and  you 
know  Fox  Kiver  and  its  freshets?  Well,  once  in  the  presence  of  Father 
B.,  a  young  Methodist  was  worrying  about  Fox  Eiver,  and  expressing 
fears  that  he  should  be  prevented  from  fulfilling  some  of  his  appoint- 
ments by  a  freshet  in  the  river.  Father  B.  checked  him  in  his  gravest 
manner.  Said  he:  ^Young  man,  I  have  always  made  it  a  rule  in  my  life 
not  to  cross  Fox  River  till  I  get  to  it,'  and  I  am  not  going  to  worry 
myself  over  the  slavery  question  till  I  get  to  it." 

STOP  YOUR   BOAT  A  MINUTE 

At  a  public  reception,  the  President  was  very  much  annoyed  by  a 
rural  citizen  from  one  of  the  border  counties  of  Virginia^  whoi  com- 
plained to  him  that  the  Union  soldiers,  in  passing  his  farm,  had  helped 
themselves  not  only  to  hay,  but  went  into  his  orchard  and  had  eaten  up 
his  fruit.  He  requested  the  President  to  order  the  proper  officer  to 
inflict  punishment  upon  the  transgressors. 

Mr.  Lincoln  did  not  reply  to  the  querulous  complaint,  but  proceeded 
to  tell  a  story,  illustrative  of  the  man's  foolish  request.  A  stream  which 
contained  a  dangerous  rapids  was  a  source  of  annoyance  and  peril  to 
voyagers.  For  many  years  these  travelers  had  been  safely  carried  over 
the  rapids  in  a  canoe  by  a  daring  fellow  who  lived  on  the  shore  near  by. 
At  last  it  was  concluded  to  build  a  steamer  and  make  Jack  captain  of 
her.  He  always  used  to  take  the  wheel,  going  through  the  rapids. 
One  day  when  the  boat  was  plunging  and  wallowing  along  the  boiling 


LINCOLN^S    HOME— SPRINGFIELD,   ILL. 

This  photograph  was  taken  at  the  time  of  the  President's  funeral.  The  group  repre- 
sents 100  prominent  citizens  from  Chicago,  who  accompanied  President  Lincoln's  remains 
to  their  last  resting  place.    The  following  is  a  list  of  the  distinguished  gentlemen: 


Hon.  N.  K.  Fairbank, 

Judge  James  B.  Bradwell, 

Judge  Gary, 

Judge  Van  H.  Higgins, 

Hon.  Matthew  Laflin, 

Hon.  John  V.  Farwell, 

Chief  Justice  M.  W.  Fuller, 

Rev.  Dr.  Tiftany, 

Ex-Mayor  Benj.  W.  Raymond, 

Ex-Mayor  Isaac  L.  Milliken, 

Ex-Mayor  J.  H.  Woodworth, 

Julius  S.  Rumsey, 

Charles  M.  Gray, 

John  C.  Haines, 

Alexander  Lloyd, 

Alson  S.  Sherman, 

Charles  Randolph, 

T.  J.  Bronson, 

John  C.  Dore, 

John  F.  Beaty, 

Stephen  Clary, 

C.  T.  Wheeler, 

J.  Maple, 

S.  S.  Hayes, 

Mancel  Talcott, 

N.  W.  Huntley, 

Aaron  Gibbs, 

Judge  E.  S.  Williams, 

Judge  Van  Buren, 

Hugh  T.  Dickey, 

Harvey  D.  Colvin, 

Thomas  Hoyne, 

S.  Anthony, 

Ira  Y.  Munn, 

Oramel  S.  Hough, 


Charles  H.  Walker, 

Da\id  R.  Holt, 

W.  D.  Houghtelling, 

Gurdon  S.  Hubbard, 

R.  McChesney, 

Iver  Lawson, 

B.  E.  Gallup, 

J.  K.  Botsford, 

A.  B.  Johnson, 

J.  M.  Wilson, 

W.  H.  Brown, 

Mark  Skinner, 

John  Alston, 

G.  P.  A.  Healey, 

James  H.  Goodsell, 

George  M.  Kimbark, 

William  Wayman, 

H.  E.  Sargeant, 

Chas.  G.  Hammond, 

George  C.  Boles, 

Samuel  Hoard, 

Peter  Page, 

Wm.  H.  Bradley, 

Daurin  P.  Hilliard, 

Dr.  Wagner, 

J.  Gindele, 

George  Anderson, 

Uriah  P.  Harris, 

Dr.  James  V.  Z.  Blaney, 

Joshua  L.  Marsh, 

J.  H.  McVicker, 

W.  F.  Tucker, 

Dr.  J.  P.  Lynn, 

Edwin  Burnham, 

James  Miller. 


Benj.  F.  Patrick, 
Dr.  D.  Brainard, 
John  B.  Turner, 
Silas  B.  Cobb, 
W.  W.  Boyington, 
Isaac  Speer, 
W.  Sheahan, 
Robert  Hervey, 
M.  L.  Sykes, 
John  B.  Drake, 
John  L.  Wilson, 
Luther  Haven, 
George  Schneider, 
Samuel  Howe, 
W.  I.  Church, 
John  A.  Wilson, 
Jacob  Rehm, 
H.  W.  Bigelow, 
A.  H.  Blackall, 
Joseph  Medill, 
A.  C.  Hessing, 
J.  H.  Field, 
E.  W.  Blatchford, 
T.  S.  Blackstone, 
Julius  White, 
Capt.  James  Smith, 
Robert  H.  Foss, 
L.  Brentano, 
Wm.  James  James, 
Long  S.  Goodwin, 
J.  M.  Van  Osdel, 
M.  John  B.  Rice, 
John  Jones   (colored), 
John  H.  Kinzie. 


JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES,  333 

current,  and  Jack's  utmost  vigilance  was  being  exercised  to  keep  her  in 
the  narrow  channel,  a  boy  pulled  his  coat-tail,  and  hailed  him  with — 
"Say,  Mister  Captain!  I  wish  you  would  just  stop  your  boat  a  minute — 
I've  lost  my  apple  overboard !" 

RESIGNED    TO    PROVIDENCE 

When  informed  of  the  death  of  John  Morgan,  a  man  whom  Mr.  Lin- 
coln did  not  exactly  love,  he  replied  to  his  informant:  "Well,  I  wouldn't 
crow  over  anybody's  death ;  but  I  can  take  this  as  resignedly  as  any  dis- 
pensation of  Providence." 

KEEP  YOUR  FINGER  AWAY 

Many  prominent  and  well-meaning  people  called  upon  Mr.  Lincoln 
simply  for  the  purpose  of  advising  him  in  regard  to  the  question  of 
emancipation,  and  when  a  distinguished  public  officer  being  in  Wash- 
ington, in  an  interview  with  the  President,  introduced  the  question  of 
emancipation  the  President  replied:  "Well,  you  see,  we've  got  to 
be  very  cautious  how  we  manage  the  negro  question.  If  we^re  not,  we 
shall  be  like  the  barber  out  in  Illinois,  who  was  shaving  a  fellow  with 
a  hatchet  face  and  lantern  jaws  like  mine.  The  barber  stuck  his  finger 
in  his  customer's  mouth  to  make  his  cheek  stick  out,  but  while  shaving 
aw^ay  he  cut  through  the  fellow's  cheek  and  cut  off  his  own  finger!  If 
we  are  not  very  careful,  we  shall  do  as  the  barber  did!" 

f  DID  THE  BEST  I   KNEW  HOW 

An  attack  was  made  on  Mr.  Lincoln  by  the  Committee  on  the  Con- 
duct of  the  War,  for  a  certain  alleged  blunder,  or  something  worse,  in 
the  Southwest,  and  an  officer  came  to  the  President  and  told  him  that 
he  possessed  official  evidence  completely  upsetting  all  the  conclusions 
of  the  committee,  and  asked  if  it  might  not  be  well  to  set  this  matter 
right  in  a  letter  to  some  paper,  stating  the  facts  as  they  actually  tran- 
spired. 

"Oh,  no,"  replied  the  President,  "at  least,  not  now.  If  I  were  to  try 
to  read,  much  less  answer,  all  the  attacks  made  on  me,  this  shop  might 
as  well  be  closed  for  any  other  business.   I  do  the  very  best  I  know  how 


'6M  JOKES  AND   ANECDOTES. 

— the  very  best  I  can;  and  I  meau  to  keep  doing  so  until  the  end.  If  the 
end  brings  me  out  all  right,  what  is  said  against  me  won't  amount  to 
anything.  If  the  end  brings  me  out  wrong,  ten  angels  swearing  I  was 
right  would  make  no  difference." 

WE^LL   GET   YOU    SAFE   ACROSS 

Some  gentlemen  from  the  West  who  were  greatly  excited  and 
troubled  about  the  commissions  or  omissions  of  the  Administration, 
called  upon  the  President  and  stated  their  grievances.  Mr.  Lincoln 
heard  them  patiently,  and  then  said:  "Gentlemen,  suppose  all  the  prop- 
erty you  were  worth  Avas  in  gold,  and  you  had  put  it  in  the  hands  of 
Blondin  to  carry  across  the  Niagara  River  on  a  rope,  would  you  shake 
the  cable,  or  keep  shouting  out  to  him — ^Blondin,  stand  up  a  little 
straighter — Blondin,  stoop  a  little  more — go  a  little  faster^ — lean  a  little 
more  to  the  north — lean  a  little  more  to  the  south?'  No,  you  would  hold 
your  breath  as  well  as  your  tongue,  and  keep  your  hands  off  until  he 
was  safe  over.  The  Government  is  carrying  an  immense  weight.  Un- 
told treasures  are  in  its  hands.  It  is  doing  the  verv  best  it  can.  Don't 
badger  it.    Keep  silence,  and  we'll  get  you  safe  across." 

KEEP    PEGGING    AWAY 

When  asked  by  an  "anxious"  visitor  as  to  what  would  be  done  in 
certain  contingencies — provided  the  rebellion  was  not  subdued  after 
three  or  four  vears  the  President  said:  "I  see  no  alternative  but  to 
keep  *pegging^  away!" 

THE   END   IS  NOT  YET 

The  Emancipation  Proclamation  had  become  a  fact  in  history  and 
the  men  who  had  vilified,  harassed  and  abused  Mr.  Lincoln  because  he 
had  not  acted  more  promptly  in  regard  to  the  issuing  of  that  proclama- 
tion now  were  loudest  in  their  vociferation  that  slavery  could  have 
been  killed  long  ago.  Of  these  brawlers,  Mr.  Lincoln  said:  "I  do  not  agxee 
with  those  who  say  that  slavery  is  dead.  We  are  like  whalers  who 
have  been  long  on  a  chase — we  have  at  last  got  the  harpoon  into  the 
monster,  but  we  must  now  look  how  we  steer,  or,  with  one  ^flop^  of  his 
tail,  he  will  yet  send  us  all  into  eternity!" 


JOKES  AND   ANECDOTES,  335 

A  REQUEST,  NOT  A  COMWIAND 

The  following  incident,  related  by  Mr.  Carpenter,  whose  famous  por- 
traits of  Mr.  Lincoln  are  easily  recognized  throughout  the  broad  land, 
is  illustrative  of  the  President's  modest  bearing  and  democratic  man- 
ner: 

"The  simplicity  and  absence  of  all  ostentation  on  the  part  of  Mr. 
Lincoln  is  well  illustrated  by  an  incident  which  occurred  on  the  occa- 
sion of  a  visit  he  made  to  Commodore  Porter,  at  Fortress  Monroe. 
Noticing  that  the  banks  of  the  river  were  dotted  with  flowers,  he  said: 
^Commodore,  Tad'  (the  pet  name  for  his  youngest  son,  who  had  accom- 
panied him  on  the  excursion)  ^is  very  fond  of  flowers;  won't  you  let  a 
couple  of  men  take  a  boat  and  go  with  him  for  an  hour  or  two,  along 
the  banks  of  the  river,  and  gather  the  flowers?'  Look  at  this  picture, 
and  then  endeavor  to  imagine  the  head  of  a  European  nation  making 
a  similar  request,  in  this  humble  way,  of  one  of  his  subordinates!" 

"I  NEVER  WISH  TO  SEE  YOUR  FAOE  AGAIN^^ 

One  would  imagine  that  Mr.  Lincoln  had  no  backbone  when  his 
sympathies  were  appealed  to,  but  such  is  not  the  case.  He  could  detect 
deceit  and  sham  as  quick  as  any  one.  The  following  two  stories  related 
by  Raymond  are  good  examples  of  how  the  President  turned  the  tables 
on  those  who  did  not  deserve  his  approbation  or  pardon: 

Among  the  callers  at  the  White  House  one  day  was  an  officer  who 
had  been  cashiered  from  the  service.  He  had  prepared  an  elaborate 
defense  of  himself,  which  he  consumed  much  time  in  reading  to  the 
President.  When  he  had  finished,  Mr.  Lincoln  replied,  that  even  upon 
his  own  statement  of  the  case  the  facts  would  not  warrant  executive 
interference.  Disappointed,  and  considerably  crest-fallen,  the  man 
withdrew.  A  few  days  afterward  he  made  a  second  attempt  to  alter  the 
President's  convictions,  going  over  substantially  the  same  ground,  and 
occupying  about  the  same  space  of  time,  but  without  accomplishing  his 
end.  The  third  time  he  succeeded  in  forcing  himself  into  Mr.  Lincoln's 
presence,  who  with  great  forbearance  listened  to  another  repetition  of 
the  case  to  its  conclusion,  but  made  no  reply.    Waiting  for  a  moment. 


336  JOKES  AND   ANECDOTES, 

the  man  gathered  from  the  expression  of  his  countenance  that  his  mind 
was  unconvinced.  Turning  very  abruptly,  he  said:  "Well,  Mr.  Presi- 
dent, I  see  that  you  are  fully  determined  not  to  do  me  justice!''  This 
was  too  aggravating  even  for  Mr.  Lincoln.  Manifesting,  however,  no 
more  feeling  than  that  indicated  by  a  slight  compression  of  the  lips,  he 
very  quietly  arose,  laid  down  a  package  of  papers  he  held  in  his  hand, 
and  then  suddenly  seized  the  defunct  officer  by  the  coat-collar  and 
marched  him  forcibly  to  the  door,  saying,  as  he  ejected  him  into  the 
passage:  "Sir,  I  give  you  fair  warning  never  to  show  yourself  in  this 
room  again.  I  can  bear  censure,  but  not  insult!"  In  a  whining  tone 
the  man  begged  for  his  papers  which  he  had  dropped.  "Begone,  sir," 
said  the  President;  "your  papers  will  be  sent  to  you.  I  never  wish  to 
see  your  face  again!" 

TOO  BIG  FISH 

Late  one  afternoon  a  lady  with  two  gentlemen  were  admitted.  She 
had  come  to  ask  that  her  husband,  who  was  a  prisoner  of  war,  might 
be  permitted  to  take  the  oath  and  be  released  from  confinement.  To 
secure  a  degree  of  interest  on  the  part  of  the  President,  one  of  the 
gentlemen  claimed  to  be  an  acquaintance  of  Mrs.  Lincoln;  this,  how- 
ever, received  but  little  attention,  and  the  President  proceeded  to  ask 
what  position  the  lady's  husband  held  in  the  rebel  service.  "Oh,"  said 
she,  "he  was  a  captain."  "A  captain,"  rejoined  Mr.  Lincoln;  "indeed, 
rather  too  big  a  fish  to  set  free  simply  upon  his  taking  the  oath !  If  he 
was  an  officer,  it  is  proof  positive  that  he  has  been  a  zealous  rebel;  I 
cannot  releaj:;e  him."  Here  the  lady's  friend  reiterated  the  assertion  of 
his  acquaintance  with  Mrs.  Lincoln.  Instantly  the  President's  hand 
was  upon  the  bell-rope.  The  usher  in  attendance  answered  the  sum- 
mons. "Cornelius,  take  this  man's  name  to  Mrs.  Lincoln,  and  ask  her 
what  she  knows  of  him."  The  boy  presently  returned,  with  the  reply 
that  "the  Madam"  (as  she  was  called  by  the  servants)  knew  nothing 
of  him  whatever.  "It  is  just  as  I  suspected,"  said  the  President.  The 
party  made  one  more  attempt  to  enlist  his  sympathy,  but  without  effect. 
"It  is  of  no  use,"  was  the  reply.  "I  cannot  release  him!"  and  the  trio 
withdrew  in  high  displeasure. 


JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES.  337 

I  THINK  I  CAN  BEAT  YOU  BOTH 

Mr.  Defrees,  the  government  printer,  called  the  President's  attention 
to  an  awkwardly  constructed  sentence,  in  one  of  his  messages,  and  sug- 
gested that  he  had  better  rearrange  it  in  a  certain  way.  Mr.  Lincoln 
acknowledged  the  force  of  the  objection  raised,  and  said,  "Go  home, 
Defrees,  and  see  if  you  can  better  if  The  next  day  Mr.  Defrees 
took  in  to  him  his  amendment.  Mr.  Lincoln  met  him  by  saying:  "Seward 
found  the  same  fault  that  you  did,  and  he  has  been  rewriting  the  para- 
graph also."  Then  reading  Mr.  Defree's  version,  he  said:  "I  believe 
you  have  beat  Seward;  but,  ^I  jings'"  (a  common  expression  with  him), 
"I  think  I  can  beat  you  both."  Then  taking  up  his  pen,  he  wrote  the 
sentence  as  it  was  finally  printed. 

A  REQUEST  GRANTED 

Among  the  many  incidents  which  have  been  related  by  Mr.  Lincoln's 
biographers  to  show  how  uniformly  kind  he  was  to  every  one,  even  the 
most  humble,  I  have  selected  the  following  as  a  good  example  of  his 
quick  procedure  to  relieve  the  annoyance  or  distress  of  any  worthy  per- 
son who  might  apply  to  him.  The  account  is  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Car- 
penter, who  spent  many  days  at  the  White  House  engaged  in  grouping 
and  painting  the  President  and  his  Cabinet: 

"Late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  second  day,  the  ^black-horse  cavalry' 
escort  drew  up  as  usual  in  front  of  the  portico,  preparatory  to  the  Presi- 
dent's leaving  for  the  ^Soldiers'  Home,'  where  he  spent  the  midsummer 
nights.  While  the  carriage  was  waiting,  I  looked  around  for  him,  wish- 
ing to  say  a  farewell  word,  knowing  that  I  should  have  no  other  oppor- 
tunity. Presently  I  saw  him  standing  half-way  between  the  portico  and 
the  gateway  leading  to  the  War  Department,  leaning  against  the  iron 
fence — one  arm  thrown  over  the  railing,  and  one  foot  on  the  stone  cop- 
ing which  supports  it,  evidently  having  been  intercepted,  on  his  way  in, 
from  the  War  Department,  by  a  plain-looking  man,  who  was  giving 
him,  very  diffidently,  an  account  of  a  difficulty  which  he  had  been  un- 
able to  have  rectified.  While  waiting,  I  walked  out  leisurely  to  the 
President's  side.     He  said  very  little   to    the  man,   but  was    intently 


338  JOKES  AND   ANECDOTES. 


studying  the  expression  of  his  face  while  he  was  narrating  his  trouble. 
When  he  had  finished,  Mr.  Lincoln  said  to  him,  ^Have  you  a  blank  card?' 
The  man  searched  his  pockets,  but  finding  none,  a  gentleman  standing 
near,  who  had  overheard  the  question,  came  forward  and  said,  ^Here 
is  one,  Mr.  President'  Several  persons  had,  in  the  meantime,  gathered 
around.  Taking  the  card  and  a  pencil,  Mr.  Lincoln  sat  down  upon  the 
stone  coping,  which  is  not  more  than  fi\e  or  six  inches  above  the  pave- 
ment, presenting  almost  the  appearance  of  sitting  upon  the  pavement 
itself,  and  wrote  an  order  upon  the  card  to  the  proper  official  to  ^examine 
this  man's  case.'  While  w^riting  this,  I  observed  several  persons  passing 
down  the  promenade,  smiling  at  each  other,  at  what  I  presume  they 
thought  the  undignified  appearance  of  the  Head  of  the  Nation,  who, 
however,  seemed  utterly  unconscious,  either  of  any  impropriety  in  the 
action  or  of  attracting  any  attention.  To  me  it  was  not  only  a  touching 
picture  of  the  native  goodness  of  the  man,  but  of  innate  nobility  of 
character,  exemplified  not  so  much  by  a  disregard  of  conventionalities 
as  in  unconsciousness  that  there  could  be  any  breach  of  etiquette,  or 
dignity,  in  the  manner  of  an  honest  attempt  to  serve,  or  secure  justice 
to  a  citizen  of  the  Republic,  however  humble  he  may  be." 

ONE  WHO  IS  WISER  THAN  ALL  OTHERS 

In  reply  to  the  criticism  of  a  garrulous  preacher  who  had  said  that 
Mr.  Lincoln  did  not  believe  in  a  God  and  was  trying  to  run  the  country 
"on  his  own  account"  Mr.  Lincoln  rei^lied,  "I  should  be  the  most  pre- 
sumptuous blockhead  upon  this  footstool  if  1  for  one  day  thought  that 
I  could  discharge  the  duties  w^hich  have  come  upon  me  since  I  came  into 
this  place  without  the  aid  and  enlightenment  of  One  who  is  wiser  and 
stronger  than  all  others." 

OPENED  ITS  EYES 

While  Mr.  Lincoln  was  at  City  Point  and  occupying  General  Grant's 
tent,  he  took  great  pleasure  in  watching  a  cat  and  her  kittens,  which 
had  been  presented  to  the  General,  This  pastime  seemed  to  relieve  the 
terrible  pressure  of  heart  and  brain,  and  just  before  he  left  the  head- 


JOKES   AND   ANECDOTES,  339 

quarters  he  noticed  that  the  eyes  of  one  of  the  kittens  were  still  closed. 
When  Richmond  had  fallen  and  he  was  about  to  start  for  the  front  he 
took  up  the  kitten  and  said  to  it:  "Little  kitten,  I  must  perform  a  last 
act  of  kindness  for  you  before  I  go.  I  must  open  your  eyes."  And  then 
manipulating  the  closed  lids  as  tenderly  as  a  mother  would  have  minis- 
tered to  her  sick  child,  he  succeeded  in  opening  the  closed  lids.  Putting 
her  down  and  watching  her  gambols  with  delight,  he  said  sadly;  "Oh, 
that  I  could  open  the  eyes  of  my  blinded  fellow-countrymen  as  easily 
as  I  have  those  of  that  little  creature!" 

A  POCKET  POSTMASTER 

After  having  been  given  a  warning  by  a  gentleman  as  to  certain 
anticipated  unkind  acts,  which  were  to  be  enacted  by  one  whom  Mr. 
Lincoln  had  every  reason  to  believe  his  friend,  the  President  turned  to 

his  informer  and,  with  one  of  his  peculiar  smiles,  said:  "Mr. ,  you 

haven't  such  a  thing  as  a  postmaster  in  your  pocket,  have  you?" 

The  gentleman  was  completely  taken  by  surprise  and  for  a  moment 
imagined  that  the  President  had  lost  his  reason;  but  when  Mr.  Lincoln 
tapped  him  on  the  shoulder  and  straightened  himself  up  and  proceeded 
to  answer  his  own  question,  Mr.  B.  knew  that  a  joke  came  in  some- 
where. "You  see,"  continued  Mr.  Lincoln,  "it's  sort  of  unnatural  that 
you  shouldn't  have  at  least  a  postmaster  in  your  pocket.  Everybody 
I've  seen  for  days  past  has  had  foreign  ministers  and  collectors,  and  all 
kinds,  and  I  thought  you  couldn't  have  got  in  here  without  having  at 
least  a  postmaster  get  into  your  pocket." 

NOTHING  NEW  UNDER  THE  SUN 

A  bunch  of  wise  men  had  called  at  the  White  House  to  unload  the 
usual  amount  of  advice  that  Mr.  Lincoln  received  as  his  daily  ration. 
Upon  this  occasion  the  advice  was  uncalled  for  and  the  advisers  par- 
ticularly obnoxious.  They  were  cultured  and  educated  men  and  the 
President  thought  he  detected  a  criticism  along  the  line  of  his  lack  of 
education;  so  he  humbly  replied:  "I  am  not  an  educated  man.  I  feel 
the  need  of  reading.  It  is  a  loss  to  a  man  not  to  have  grown  up  amon 
books." 


340  JOKES   AND  ANECDOTES. 

"Men  of  force,"  replied  one  of  the  callers,  "can  get  on  pretty  well 
without  books.  They  do  their  own  thinking  instead  of  adopting  what 
other  men  think." 

"Yes,"  replied  Mr.  Lincoln,  "but  books  serve  to  show  a  man  that 
those  original  thoughts  of  his  aren't  very  new  after  all." 

This  was  a  turn  in  the  conversation  that  was  not  exactly  agreeable 
to  the  officious  man  and  he  suggested  to  the  committee  that  a  hasty 
departure  was  advisable. 

HE  NEEDN'T  LOSE  ANY   SLEEP 

Another  instance  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  firmness,  when  patience  was  ex- 
hausted and  he  was  therefore  called  upon  to  assert  his  opinion,  is  here- 
with related. 

A  certain  general  had  telegraphed  to  the  Secretary  of  War  that  he 
must  have  more  men  and  when  Mr.  Stanton  showed  the  message  to  the 
President,  and  before  he  had  time  to  ask  him  what  he  should  do  about 
it,  Mr.  Lincoln  said:  "I  guess  he's  killed  off  enough  men,  hasn't  he, 
and  what's  the  use  in  sending  volunteers  down  to  him  if  they're  only 
used  to  fill  graves?" 

As  Mr.  Lincoln  paused,  seemingly  waiting  for  an  answer  to  his 
question,  Mr.  Stanton  glanced  over  the  telegram  again  and  then  ven- 
tured to  remark:  "His  dispatch  seems  to  imply  that,  in  his  opinion,  you 
have  not  the  confidence  in  him  he  thinks  he  deserves." 

"Oh,"  said  the  President,  "he  needn't  lose  any  sleep  on  that  account. 
Just  telegraph  him  to  that  effect;  also  that  I  don't  propose  to  send  any 


more  men." 


APPEARANCES  ARE   DECEIVING 


A  handsome  and  beautifully  gowned  woman  called  upon  Mr.  Lincoln 
for  the  purpose  of  securing  the  release  from  prison  of  a  relative  in  whom 
she  seemed  to  be  greatly  interested. 

She  supposed,  by  her  bright  and  vivacious  manner  that  she  had  made 
a  great  impression  upon  the  President,  and  when  he  gave  her  a  sealed 
letter  directed  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  she  was  certain  that  her  charms 
Lad  won  the  victory  and  her  friend  (?)  would  be  speedily  released.    But 


JOKES  'AND  "ANECDOTES,  341 

how  great  would  have  been  her  chagrin  had  she  known  the  contents  of 
that  communication.  The  following  are  the  mystic  words  which  the 
President  had  traced:  "This  woman,  dear  Stanton,  is  a  little  smarter 
than  she  looks." 

TOO  GREAT  A  DISTANCE 

Upon  one  occasion  when  the  President  was  passing  down  one  of  the 
aisles  in  the  hospital  at  Washington,  between  the  long  row  of  cots  upon 
which  were  seen  wounded  soldiers  in  every  stage  of  illness,  from  those 
who  were  dying  to  those  who  were  convalescing,  he  noticed  an  unusu- 
ally tall  fellow,  who  rose  to  his  feet  and  stood  ready  to  salute  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief. This  soldier  from  Pennsylvania  measured  six  feet  and 
seven  inches.  As  Mr.  Lincoln  approached  and  observed  his  unusual 
height,  he  paused  before  him,  gazed  at  him  from  head  to  foot,  extended 
his  hand  and  exclaimed,  "Hello,  comrade,  do  you  know  when  your  feet 
get  cold?" 

THE  TWO  FLAGS 

One  of  the  most  touching  and  beautiful  incidents  connected  with 
the  closing  days  of  the  great  rebellion  is  related  by  an  eye-witness  who 
vouches  for  the  truth  of  the  story. 

When  the  troops  were  returning  to  Washington,  great  crowds  col- 
lected upon  the  lawn  before  the  White  House,  and,  as  the  battered  and 
weary  boys  in  blue  filed  by  cheer  after  cheer  rent  the  air,  while  the 
President,  with  uncovered  head,  stood  amongst  the  great  concourse  and 
raised  high  above  him  the  starry  flag.  With  every  undulation  of  old 
glory  the  people  responded  with  huzzahs  which  grew  in  intensity  as  the 
minutes  went  by.  In  the  midst  of  this  tremendous  and  patriotic  demon- 
stration a  strange  sight  caught  the  eyes  of  the  almost  maddened  re- 
joicers.  From  the  window  of  the  Executive  Mansion  a  small  boy  leaned 
out  and  in  his  hand  was  seen  the  banner  of  the  boys  in  gray.  The  wind 
caught  the  flag  and  it  too  rose  and  fell  with  the  breeze.  It  was  Tad  Lin- 
coln, the  irrepressible,  who  had  seized  the  flag  which  had  been  captured 
from  the  Confederates  and  flung  it  from  an  upper  window,  despite  the 
admonitions,  threats  and  displeasure  of  those  who  were  in  the  room 
with  him. 


Bi2  JOKES   AND  'ANECDOTES. 

An  ominous  silence  took  possession  of  the  vast  throng,  and  the  Presi- 
dent turned  to  discover  if  he  could  the  cause  of  so  strange  a  proceeding. 
He  saw  his  boy  hanging  from  the  window,  and  in  his  hand  the  rebel  flag. 
Without  a  moment's  hesitation  he  waved  a  signal  of  assent  to  the  boy 
and  then  with  a  smile  upon  his  pale  countenance  he  faced  the  crowd 
and  again  sent  *^01d  Glory''  out  in  graceful  waves.  The  applause  was 
tremendous,  for  the  people  could  not  resent  the  beautiful  spirit  which 
had  always  characterized  the  man.  "With  charity  for  all,  and  malice 
toward  none." 

A  METAMORPHOSIS 

It  was  on  the  2d  of  February,  1865,  that  President  Lincoln  met 
Alexander  H.  Stephens.  Mr.  Stephens  boarded  the  River  Queen,  which 
was  then  lying  at  Fortress  Monroe,  accompanied  by  his  body-servant, 
a  colored  man.  The  Vice-President  of  the  Confederacy  was  wrapped  in 
overcoats  and  shawls,  and,  thus  enveloped,  one  could  easily  imagine  he 
was  a  fair-sized  man,  at  least.  But  when  the  colored  servant  began  to 
take  off  Mr.  Stephens'  trappings  and  a  small,  shriveled  up  old  man 
greeted  Mr.  Lincoln,  he  could  not  resist  the  temptation  to  have  a  quiet 
joke.  So,  turning  to  Secretary  Seward,  he  said:  "This  is  the  largest 
shrinking  for  so  small  a  nubbin  that  I  ever  saw." 

DO  SOMETHING  FOR  THE   DUTCH 

As  many  complaints  had  reached  Mr.  Lincoln's  ear  that  but  little 
had  been  done  for  the  Dutch,  and  when  some  prominent  men  who  were 
born  in  the  Fatherland  suggested  that  a  certain  Dutchman  would  make 
a  good  officer,  Mr.  Lincoln  made  up  his  mind  that  such  should  be  the 
case,  and  he  sent  for  the  Secretary  of  War  and  said  to  him: 

"Now,  I  want  Schimmelpfennig  given  one  of  those  brigadiershij)S.'' 

Mr.  Stanton  did  not  take  kindly  to  the  command,  and  although  he 
knew  that  in  the  end  it  would  be  as  the  President  said,  he  deter- 
mined to  make  an  opposition  at  least. 

To  Mr.  Lincoln  he  said:  "But,  Mr.  President,  it  may  be  that  this 
Mr.  Schim-what's-his-name  has  no  recommendations  showing  his  fitness. 
Perhaps  he  can't  speak  English." 


JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES.  343 

"That  doesn't  matter  a  bit/'  the  President  replied;  "he  may  be  deaf 
and  dumb  for  all  1  know,  but  whatever  language  he  speaks^  if  any,  we 
can  furnish  troops  who  will  understand  what  he  says.  That  name  of  his 
will  make  up  for  any  differences  in  religion,  politics  or  understanding, 
and  I'll  take  the  risk  of  his  coming  out  all  right." 

Mr.  Stanton  undertook  to  make  some  further  objections  when  the 
President  brought  his  hand  down  on  the  desk  with  a  very  emphatic 
blow  and  said:    "Schim-mel-fen-nig  must  be  appointed." 

THE  SHRIEKS  MUST  BE  HEEDED 

Mr.  Lincoln  had  great  difficulty  in  securing  for  his  Cabinet  a  South- 
ern man,  and  when  Attorney-General  Bates  handed  in  his  resignation 
and  still  the  howl  went  up  that  a  Southern  man  must  be  found  to  fill 
the  vacancy,  Mr.  Lincoln  remarked  to  a  friend  concerning  the  situa- 
tion: 

"My  Cabinet  has  shrunk  up  North  and  I  must  find  a  Southern  man. 
I  suppose  if  the  twelve  apostles  were  to  be  chosen  nowadays,  the  shrieks 
of  locality  would  have  to  be  heeded." 

A  MIGHTY  THINKER 

The  following  is  related  by  one  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  Washington  asso- 
ciates and  is  reproduced  for  the  purpose  of  showing  how  delighted  the 
President  was  when  he  was  relieved  from  a  disagreeable  duty: 

"Do  you  know  General  A ?"  queried  the  President  one  day  to 

a  friend  who  had  "dropped  in"  at  the  White  House. 

"Certainly;  but  you  are  not  wasting  any  time  thinking  about  him, 
are  you  ?"  was  the  rejoinder. 

"You  wrong  him,"  responded  the  President,  "he  is  a  really  great  man 
— a  philosopher." 

"How  do  you  make  that  out?  He  isn't  worth  the  powder  and  ball 
necessary  to  kill  him — so  I  have  heard  military  men  say,"  the  friend 
remarked. 

"He  is  a  mighty  thinker,"  the  President  returned,  "because  he  has 
mastered  that  ancient  and  wise  admonition,  'Know  thyself;'  he  has 


344  JOKES  AND   ANECDOTES. 

formed  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  himself,  knows  as  well  for  what 
he  is  fitted  and  unfitted  as  any  man  living.  Without  doubt  he  is  a  re- 
markable man.    This  war  has  not  produced  another  like  him.'^ 

"How  is  it  that  you  are  so  highly  pleased  with  General  A all 

at  once?" 

"For  the  reason,"  replied  Mr.  Lincoln,  with  a  merry  twinkle  of  the 
eye,  "greatly  to  my  relief,  and  to  the  interests  of  the  country,  he  has 
resigned.  The  country  should  express  its  gratitude  in  some  substantial 
wav." 

HE  DIDN^T  STEAL 

Franklin  W.  Smith  and  his  brother,  charged  with  defrauding  the 
government,  were  court-martialed  but  the  case  was  brought  to  the 
attention  of  the  President  by  some  personal  friends  of  the  convicted 
men,  who  believed  that  they  were  innocent  of  the  guilt  charged. 

Mr.  Lincoln  took  up  the  case  and  made  a  careful  examination  of  all 
the  papers  pertaining  to  the  court-martial.  He  disproved  the  judgment 
and  wrote  the  following  opinion  upon  the  papers: 

"Whereas,  Franklin  W.  Smith  had  transactions  with  the  Navy  De- 
partment to  the  amount  of  a  million  and  a  quarter  of  dollars;  and 

"Whereas,  he  had  a  chance  to  steal  at  least  a  quarter  of  a  million 
and  was  only  charged  with  stealing  twenty-two  hundred  dollars,  and 
the  question  now  is  about  his  stealing  one  hundred,  I  don't  believe  he 
stole  anything  at  all. 

"Therefore,  the  record  and  the  findings  are  disapproved,  declared 
null  and  void,  and  the  defendants  are  fully  discharged." 


"THEY  SCAMPER  AWAY" 

The  President's  desire  to  accommodate  all  persons  who  came  to  him 
asking  favors  was  never  realized  until  an  untimely  disease,  which  pos- 
sessed many  of  the  characteristics  of  one  of  the  most  dreaded  maladies, 
confined  him  to  his  bed  at  the  White  House. 

The  rumor  was  circulated  that  the  President  was  afflicted  with  this 
disease,  but  the  truth  was  that  it  was  merely  a  mild  attack  of  varioloid. 


JOKES  AND   ANECDOTES.  345 

However,  it  pleased  Mr.  Lincoln  immensely  to  have  such  a  report  circu- 
lated, for  it  relieved  him  from  the  rush  of  office-seekers. 

One  day,  however,  a  man  from  the  West,  who  was  not  a  regular 
reader  of  the  daily  papers,  and  who  wanted  to  be  appointed  postmaster 
in  his  town,  called  at  the  White  House.  The  President,  who  was  now 
quite  well,  received  him.  The  caller  w^as  getting  tiresome,  when  the 
President  interrupted  him  with  the  remark  that  his  doctor  was  due,  and 
he  would  be  obliged  to  excuse  himself. 

"Why,  Mr.  President,  are  you  sick?"  the  visitor  asked. 

"Oh,  nothing  much,"  replied  Mr.  Lincoln,  "but  the  physician  says  he 
fears  the  worst." 

"What  worst,  may  I  ask?" 

"Smallpox,"  came  the  answer;  "but  you  needn^t  be  scared.  I'm  only 
in  the  first  stages  now." 

The  visitor  seized  his  hat,  and  without  a  word  rushed  into  the  streets, 
a  very  frightened  man. 

"Now,  that's  the  way  with  people,"  the  President  said,  when  relating 
the  story  afterward.  "When  I  can't  give  them  what  they  want,  they're 
dissatisfied,  and  say  harsh  things  about  me;  but  when  I've  something  to 
give  to  everybody  they  scamper  off." 

A  USELESS  DOCUMENT 

After  an  unusually  annoying  interview  with  a  committee  who  had 
called  for  the  purpose  of  urging  Mr.  Lincoln  to  issue  the  Emancipation 
Proclamation,  he  then  and  there  added  to  his  dismissal  the  following 
sentence: 

"I  do  not  want  to  issue  a  document  that  the  whole  world  will  see 
must  necessarily  be  inoperative,  like  the  Pope^s  bull  against  the  comet." 

MASTER  OF  THE  SITUATION 

A  Unionist,  who  had  been  driven  away  from  New  Orleans,  asked  to 
see  the  writ  by  which  he  was  expelled,  but  the  deputation  which  called 
on  him  told  him  the  Government  would  do  nothing  illegal,  and  so 
they  had  issued  no  illegal  writ,  and  simply  meant  to  make  him  to  go  of 
his  own  free  will. 


346  JOKES  AND   ANECDOTES. 

When  this  fact  was  related  to  Mr.  Lincoln  by  the  expelled  Unionist 
he  replied: 

"AVell,  that  reminds  me  of  a  hotel-keeper  down  at  St.  Louis,  who 
boasted  that  he  never  liad  a  death  in  his  hotel,  for  whenever  a  guest  was 
djing  in  his  house  he  carried  him  out  to  die  in  the  gutter.'' 

A  NOVEL  PORTRAIT 

A  gentleman  from  Philadelphia  in  being  presented  to  the  President 
was  introduced  by  a  friend  as  follows: 

"Mr.  President,  this  is  Mr.  S.,  of  the  second  district  of  our  State, — a 
most  active  and  earnest  friend  of  yours  and  the  cause.  He  has,  among 
other  things,  been  good  enough  to  paint,  and  present  to  our  league 
rooms,  a  most  beautiful  portrait  of  yourself." 

In  an  exceedingly  nonchalant  manner  the  President  shook  the  hand 
of  the  ar-tist  and  with  a  comical  expression  on  his  face  said: 

"I  presume,  sir,  in  painting  your  beautiful  portrait,  you  took  your 
idea  from  my  principles  and  not  from  my  person." 

I  AM  GOING  TO  TRUST  YOU 

Here  is  the  story  of  William  Scott,  a  counti*y  lad  who,  having  been 
found  asleep  when  on  duty,  was  tried  by  court-martial  and  sentenced 
to  execution. 

The  case  was  one  which  attracted  the  sympathy  of  the  whole  regi- 
ment, for  the  boy  had  volunteered  to  stand  guard  for  a  comrade  who  had 
been  selected  but  was  too  ill  to  do  picket  duty.  The  circumstances  were 
exceeding  extenuating,  for  the  boy  had  the  night  before  been  on  duty 
also  and  the  day  preceding  the  fatal  nap  a  long  march  had  been  en- 
forced, so  that  the  poor  fellow  was  well-nigh  dead. 

The  particulars  of  the  case  were  conveyed  to  the  President,  and  in 
the  meantime  the  friends  of  the  unfortunate  youth  hoped  for  leniency. 

William  Scott  was  a  prisoner  in  his  tent,  closely  guarded  and  the 
sentence  of  death  hanging  over  him,  when  Mr.  Lincoln  stepped  within 
the  tented  cell  and  gazed  upon  the  wretched  and  unhappy  boy. 

The  conversation  which  took  place  between  the  President  and  W^il- 


JOKES  AND   ANECDOTES.  347 

liam  Scott  and  the  sequel  which  followed  is  reproduced  from  Holland's 
Life  of  Lincoln: 

"The  President  was  the  kindest  man  I  had  ever  seen;  I  knew  him  at 
once  by  a  Lincoln  medal  I  had  long  worn. 

"I  was  scared  at  first,  for  I  had  never  before  talked  with  a  great  man; 
but  Mr.  Lincoln  was  so  easy  with  me,  so  gentle,  that  I  soon  forgot  my 
fright. 

"He  asked  me  all  about  the  people  at  home,  the  neighbors,  the  farm, 
and  where  I  went  to  school,  and  who  my  schoolmates  were.  Then  he 
asked  me  about  mother  and  how  she  looked;  and  I  was  glad  I  could  take 
her  photograph  from  my  bosom  and  show  it  to  him, 

"He  said  how  thankful  I  ought  to  be  that  my  mother  still  lived, 
and  how,  if  he  were  in  my  place,  he  would  try  to  make  her  a  proud 
mother,  and  never  cause  her  a  sorrow  or  a  tear. 

"I  cannot  remember  it  all,  but  every  word  was  so  kind. 

"He  had  said  nothing  yet  about  that  dreadful  next  morning;  I 
thought  it  must  be  that  he  was  so  kind-hearted  that  he  didn't  like  to 
speak  of  it. 

"But  why  did  he  say  so  much  about  my  mother,  and  my  not  causing 
her  a  sorrow  or  a  tear,  when  I  knew  that  I  must  die  the  next  morning? 

"But  I  supposed  that  was  something  that  would  have  to  go  unex- 
plained; and  so  I  determined  to  brace  up  and  tell  him  that  I  did  not  feel 
a  bit  guilty,  and  ask  him  wouldn't  he  fix  it  so  that  the  firing  party  would 
not  be  from  our  regiment. 

"That  was  going  to  be  the  hardest  of  all — to  die  by  the  hands  of  my 
comrades. 

"Just  as  I  was  going  to  ask  him  this  favor,  he  stood  up,  and  he  say& 
to  me: 

"  ^My  boy,  stand  up  here  and  look  me  in  the  face.' 

"I  did  as  he  bade  me. 

"  ^My  boy,'  he  said,  *you  are  not  going  to  be  shot  to-morrow.  I  be- 
lieve you  when  you  tell  me  that  you  could  not  keep  awake. 

"  *I  am  going  to  trust  you,  and  send  you  back  to  your  regiment. 

"  *But  T  have  been  put  to  a  good  deal  of  trouble  on  your  account. 


148  JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES. 


a  <l 


^I  have  had  to  come  up  here  from  Washington  when  I  have  got  a 
great  deal  to  do;  and  what  I  want  to  know  is,  how  are  you  going  to  pay 
my  bill?' 

"There  was  a  big  lump  in  my  throat;  I  could  scarcely  speak.  I  had 
expected  to  die,  you  see,  and  had  kind  of  got  used  to  thinking  that  way. 

"To  have  it  all  changed  in  a  minute!  But  I  got  it  crowded  down,  and 
managed  to  say: 

"  ^I  am  grateful,  Mr.  Lincoln!  I  hope  I  am  as  grateful  as  ever  a  man 
can  be  to  you  for  saving  my  life. 

"  ^But  it  comes  upon  me  sudden  and  unexpected  like.  I  didn't  lay 
out  for  it  at  all;  but  there  is  some  way  to  pay  you,  and  I  will  find  it  after 
a  little. 

"  ^There  is  the  bounty  in  the  savings  bank;  I  guess  we  could  borrow 
some  money  on  the  mortgage  of  the  farm.' 

"There  was  my  pay,  that  was  something,  and  if  he  would  wait  until 
payday  I  was  sure  the  boys  would  help;  so  I  thought  we  could  make  it 
up  if  it  wasn't  more  than  five  or  six  hundred  dollars. 

"  ^But  it  is  a  great  deal  more  than  that,'  he  said. 

"Then  I  said  I  didn't  just  see  how,  but  I  was  sure  I  would  find  some 
wav — if  I  lived. 

"Then  Mr.  Lincoln  put  his  hands  on  my  shoulders,  and  looked  into 
my  face  as  if  he  was  sorry,  and  said: 

"  *My  boy,  my  bill  is  a  very  large  one.  Your  friends  cannot  pay  it, 
nor  your  bounty,  nor  the  farm,  nor  all  your  comrades! 

"  ^There  is  only  one  man  in  all  the  world  who  can  pay  it,  and  his 
name  is  William  Scott! 

"  ^If  from  this  day  William  Scott  does  his  duty,  so  that,  if  I  were 
there  when  he  comes  to  die,  he  can  look  me  in  the  face  as  he  does  now, 
and  say,  I  have  kept  my  promise,  and  I  have  done  my  duty  as  a  soldier, 
then  my  debt  will  be  paid. 

"  *Will  you  make  that  promise  and  try  to  keep  it?' " 

The  promise  was  given.  Thenceforward  there  never  was  i*uch  a  sol- 
dier as  William  Scott. 


lOKES  'AND  "ANECDOTES.  34S) 

This  is  the  record  of  the  end.  It  was  after  one  of  the  awful  battles 
of  the  Peninsula.    He  was  shot  all  to  pieces.    He  said: 

"Boys,  I  shall  never  see  another  battle.  I  supposed  this  would  be 
my  last.    I  haven't  much  to  say. 

"You  all  know  what  you  can  tell  them  at  home  about  me. 

"I  have  tried  to  do  the  right  thing!  If  any  of  you  ever  have  the 
chance  I  wish  you  would  tell  President  Lincoln  that  I  have  never  for- 
gotten the  kind  words  he  said  to  me  at  the  Chain  Bridge;  that  I  have* 
tried  to  be  a  good  soldier  and  true  to  the  flag;  that  I  should  have  paid 
my  whole  debt  to  him  if  I  had  lived ;  and  that  now,  when  I  know  that  I 
am  dying,  I  think  of  his  kind  face,  and  thank  him  again,  because  he 
gave  me  the  chance  to  fall  like  a  soldier  in  battle,  and  not  like  a  coward, 
by  the  hands  of  my  comrades." 

What  wonder  that  Secretary  Stanton  said,  as  he  gazed  upon  the  tall 
form  and  kindly  face  as  he  lay  there,  smitten  down  by  the  assassin's 
bullet;   "There  lies  the  most  perfect  ruler  of  men  who  ever  lived." 

A    CONCEIT    ERASER 

For  many  years  Mr.  Lincoln  was  a  target  for  all  the  would-be  orators 
and  aspiring  politicians.  His  peculiar  manner,  grotesque  appearance, 
and  unfashionable  garments  were  made  the  butt  of  many  a  "Smart 
Aleck's"  conceit. 

Upon  one  occasion  Mr.  Lincoln  was  particularly  annoyed  by  a  young 
sprig  who  fancied  himself  a  modern  Demosthenes  and  Lincoln  made  up 
his  mind  that  he  would  take  the  conceit  out  of  his  sails.  After  being 
interrupted  by  the  impertinent  fledgling  several  times,  Lincoln  turned 
and  said: 

"I  don't  object  to  being  interrupted  with  sensible  questions,  but  I 
must  say  that  this  young  man's  remarks  do  not  come  under  that  head. 
He  reminds  me  of  a  steamboat  that  used  to  run  on  the  Illinois  river. 
It  was  an  energetic  boat  and  always  busy.  In  some  unaccountable  way 
the  builders  of  this  particular  boat  had  made  the  whistle  as  long  as  the 
boiler,  both  being  six  feet  in  length.  In  consequence  of  this  strange  and 
peculiar  construction,  the  boat  had  to  stop  every  time  the  whistle  blew." 


350  lOKES  "AND  ^ANECDOTES. 

TOO    STATIONARY 

General  McClellan's  tardiness  and  delay  in  pushing  engagements, 
marches,  etc.,  became  at  last  very  annoying  and  trying  to  Mr.  Lincoln. 
At  last  Lincoln  threatened  to  remove  McClellan,  and  when  his  friends 
demurred  and  protested  that  he  was  a  great  engineer,  Mr.  Lincoln 
responded,  "Well,  I  do  not  deny  the  accusation,  but  I  am  convinced 
that  he  is  too  fond  of  a  stationary  engine." 

THAT    ONE    WINS 

Mr.  Herndon  inadvertently  said  to  Mr.  Lincoln  that  his  admirers 
were  feeling  considerable  concern  over  the  outcome  of  the  forthcoming 
debate  which  was  soon  to  take  place  between  Lincoln  and  Douglas. 
Lincoln,  fixed  his  eye  upon  the  informant,  then  drawing  himself  up  to 
his  full  height  he  drawled  in  unmistakable  emphasis  the  following: 

"You  have  no  doubt  seen  two  men  about  to  fight.  Well,  one  of  them 
brags  about  what  he  means  to  do.  He  jumps  high  in  the  air,  cracking 
his  heels  together,  smites  his  fists,  and  wastes  his  breath  trying  to  scare 
somebody.  The  other  fellow  says  not  a  word.  His  arms  are  at  his  sides, 
his  fists  are  closely  doubled  up,  his  head  is  drawn  to  the  shoulder,  and 
his  teeth  are  set  firm  together.  He  is  saving  his  wind  for  the  fi'^ht,  and 
as  sure  as  it  comes  oft*  he  will  win  it,  or  die  a-trying." 

CHARAOTERISTIO    OF    THE    MAN 

Here  is  a  unique  announcement  which  Mr.  Lincoln  made  when  he 
first  opened  up  a  law  office.  The  truth  of  this  announcement,  which  was 
written  on  a  plain,  cheap  card,  is  vouched  for  by  a  personal  friend  of 
Mr.  Lincoln's  and  who  still  has  one  of  the  old  cards. 

"To  my  neighbors  and  friends  in  the  vicinity  of  my  late  doings:  I 
have  concluded  to  give  up  trapsing  around.  I  am  going  to  settle  right 
here  and  I  am  in  the  law  to  stay.  I  want  you  to  come  and  see  me.  Bring 
your  family  and  your  relations.  Come  right  in  and  don't  be  bashful. 
Tell  your  troubles  and  I'll  take  care  of  them.    Get  in. 

"ABKAHAM  LINCOLN." 


lOKES  'AND  ANECDOTES.  351 


TOO    MUCH    TAIL 


The  following  pat  illustration  is  reported  as  having  been  made  to 
General  Grant  by  President  Lincoln  during  a  confidential  chat  just 
after  Grant  had  been  appointed  Lieutenant-General.    He  said: 

^'At  one  time  there  was  a  great  war  among  the  animals,  and  one  side 
had  great  difficulty  in  getting  a  commander  who  had  sufficient  confi- 
dence in  himself.  Finally  they  found  a  monkey  by  the  name  of  Jocko, 
who  said  he  thought  he  could  command  their  army  if  his  tail  could  be 
made  a  little  longer.  So  they  got  more  tail  and  spliced  it  on  to  his 
caudal  appendage. 

"He  looked  at  it  admiringly,  and  then  said  he  thought  he  ought  to 
have  still  more  tail.  This  was  added,  and  again  he  called  for  more. 
The  splicing  process  was  repeated  many  times  until  they  had  coiled 
Jocko's  tail  around  the  room,  filling  all  the  space. 

"Still  he  called  for  more  tail,  and,  there  being  no  other  place  to  coil 
it,  they  began  wrapping  it  around  his  shoulders.  He  continued  his  call 
for  more,  and  they  kept  on  winding  the  additional  tail  around  him  until 
its  weight  broke  him  down.'' 

After  this  story  was  told.  General  Grant  needed  no  personal  advice 
upon  a  certain  point,  and  without  waiting  for  further  conversation, 
assured  the  President  that  he'd  not  find  him  a  second  Jocko. 

SETTLE,  SETTLE,  WAS  HIS  CRY 

It  was  the  constant  thought  uppermost  in  Mr.  Lincoln's  mind  that 
peace  should  be  restored  at  the  earliest  possible  moment.  He  was 
known  to  ha^e  said  many  times,  "This  unholy  war  must  close,  and  I  am 
willing  to  stop  it  under  any  agreement  save  one,  and  that  is^  that  the 
Union  must  be  preserved.  As  to  any  other  condition  of  restoration  I 
care  not,  for  I  want  peace,  peace." 

The  politicians  w^ere  howling  about  him  like  a  nest  of  infuriated 
hornets  and  were  clamoring  that  as  the  Confederates  were  responsible 
for  the  rebellion,  no  mercy  should  be  shown  them.  To  these  particular 
gentlemen  he  described  his  feelings  by  the  following  pointed  story: 


352  JOKES  'AND  ANECDOTES. 

"A  vicious  bull  in  a  pasture  took  after  everybody  vv^ho  tried  to  cross 
the  lot,  and  one  day  a  neighbor  of  the  owner  was  the  victim.  This  man 
was  a  speedy  fellow  and  got  to  a  friendly  tree  ahead  of  the  bull,  but 
not  in  time  to  climb  the  tree.  So  he  led  the  enraged  animal  a  merry 
race  around  the  tree,  finally  succeeding  in  seizing  the  bull  by  the  tail. 

"The  bull,  being  at  a  disadvantage,  not  able  to  either  catch  the  man 
or  release  his  tail,  was  mad  enough  to  eat  nails;  he  dug  up  the  earth 
with  his  feet,  scattered  gravel  all  around,  bellowed  until  you  could  hear 
him  for  two  miles  or  more,  and  at  length  broke  into  a  dead  run,  the  man 
hanging  on  to  his  tail  all  the  time. 

"While  the  bull,  much  out  of  temper,  was  legging  it  to  the  best  of 
his  ability,  his  tormentor,  still  clinging  to  the  tail,  asked,  ^Darn  you, 
who  commenced  this  fuss?''^ 

This  was  the  situation,  and  so  far  as  which  of  the  two  factions  com- 
menced the  fuss,  the  President  didn't  care  a  fig;   he  wanted  the  war 

ended. 

HOW    TO    BAG    YOUR    GAIYIE 

It  is  a  very  noticeable  fact  that  when  the  man  who  ha^  been  censured 
and  condemned  at  last  succeeds  his  critics  are  the  very  ones  who  try  to 
probe  the  secret  of  his  success,  and  having,  as  they  suppose,  unearthed 
the  desirable  methods,  proceed  to  imitate  and  undertake  to  emulate  the 
successful  man. 

The  result  which  follows  is,  of  course,  the  natural  outcome,  a 
wretched  failure  on  the  part  of  the  spurious  actor. 

Mr.  Lincoln's  long  experience  with  this  class  of  fellows  led  him  to 
many  and  divers  inventions. 

A  well-known  man  from  the  Empire  State  asked  Mr.  Lincoln  how 
he  managed  to  accomplish  a  certain  affair  which  had  been  predicted 
by  high  officials  would  result  in  disaster.  To  which  pointed  question 
Mr.  Lincoln  replied:  "Well,  you  see  it  is  quite  unwise  to  tell  certain 
individuals  how  a  fellow  bags  his  game  when  he  knows  the  other  fellow 
is  after  the  same  birds." 

After  ruminating,  however,  for  a  moment  the  President  turned 
about  in  his  chair  and  addressed  the  gentleman  from  the  Empire  State 


JOKES  AND  "ANECDOTES,  353 

by  saying:  ^^If  you'll  not  give  the  secret  away  I'll  tell  you  how  to  al- 
ways catch  prairie  chickens.'' 

The  distinguished  caller  promised  and  the  President  proceeded: 

"An  old  friend  of  mine  out  in  Illinois  had  better  luck  in  getting 
prairie  chickens  than  any  one  in  the  neighborhood,  and  when  questioned 
by  a  fellow  sportsman  how  it  was  that  he  always  came  home  with  a 
lot  of  birds  Mr.  C replied: 

"  ^Oh,  I  don't  know  that  there's  anything  queer  about  it.  I  jes'  go 
ahead  an'  git  'em.' 

"  ^Yes,  I  know  you  do ;  but  how  do  you  do  it?' 

"  ^You'll  tell.' 

"  ^Honest,  Jake,  I  won't  say  a  word.     Hope  to  drop  dead  this  minute.' 

"  ^Never  say  nothing,  if  I  tell  you  ?' 

"  ^Cross  my  heart  three  times.' 

"This  reassured  Jake,  who  put  his  mouth  close  to  the  ear  of  his  eager 
questioner,  and  said,  in  a  whisper : 

"  ^All  you  got  to  do  is  jes'  hide  in  a  fence  corner  an'  make  a  noise  like 
a  turnip.     That'll  bring  the  chickens  every  time.' " 

It  is  useless  to  add  that  Senator failed  to  respond  to  the  Pres- 
ident's low  chuckle,  and  from  that  time  on  until  the  departure  of  the 
visitor  the  conversation  dragged. 

THE    WONDERFUL    VICTORY 

Mr.  Lincoln's  contempt  for  the  braggart  was  undisguised.  He  never 
failed  to  convince  the  man  who  had  a  grand  account  to  relate  of  his  won- 
derful achievements  that  the  true  state  of  affairs  was  his  secret  also. 

The  following,  which  illustrates  the  President's  methods  in  treating 
the  army  officers  who  were  given  to  sounding  their  own  praises,  was 
overheard  by  Secretary  Stanton,  who  said  to  a  friend,  to  whom  he  re- 
lated the  incident:    "I  would  have  given  my  old  hat  could  you  have 

seen  Colonel  's  face  when  the  President  had  concluded  his  little 

yarn." 

"These  fellows  who  have  put  to  flight,  pursued  and  captured  an 
army  of  Johnnies,"  said  the  President,  "remind  me  of  the  fellow  who 
owned  a  dog  which,  so  he  said,  just  hungered  and  thirsted  to  combat 


354  JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES, 

and  eat  up  wolves.  It  was  a  difficult  matter,  so  the  owner  declared,  to 
keep  that  dog  from  devoting  the  entire  twenty-four  hours  of  each  day  to 
the  destruction  of  his  enemies.     He  just  ^hankered'  to  get  at  them. 

"One  day  a  party  of  this  dog-owner's  friends  thought  to  have  some 
sport.  These  friends  heartily  disliked  wolves,  and  were  anxious  to  see 
the  dog  eat  up  a  few  thousand.  So  they  organized  a  hunting  party  and 
invited  the  dog-owner  and  the  dog  to  go  with  them.  They  desired  to  be 
personally  present  when  the  wolf-killing  was  in  progress. 

"It  was  noticed  that  the  dog-owner  was  not  over-enthusiastic  in  the 
matter ;  he  pleaded  a  ^business  engagement,'  but  as  he  was  the  most  noto- 
rious and  torpid  of  the  town  loafers,  and  wouldn't  have  recognized  a 
^business  engagement'  had  he  met  it  face  to  face,  his  excuse  was  treated 
with  contempt.     Therefore  he  had  to  go. 

"The  dog,  however,  was  glad  enough  to  go,  and  so  the  party  started 
out.  Wolves  were  in  plenty,  and  soon  a,  pack  was  discovered,  but  when 
the  ^wolf-hound'  saw  the  ferocious  animals  he  lost  heart,  and,  putting  his 
tail  between  his  legs,  endeavored  to  slink  away.  At  last — after  many 
trialsi — he  was  enticed  into  the  small  growth  of  underbrush  where  the 
wolves  had  secreted  themselves,  and  yells  of  terror  betrayed  the  fact 
that  the  battle  was  on. 

"Away  flew  the  wolves,  the  dog  among  them,  the  hunting  party  fol- 
lowing on  horseback.  The  wolves  seemed  frightened,  and  the  dog  was 
restored  to  public  favor.  It  really  looked  as  if  he  had  the  savage  creat- 
ures on  the  run,  as  he  was  fighting;  heroically  when  last  sighted. 

"Wolves  and  dog  soon  disappeared,  and  it  was  not  until  the  party 
arrived  at  a  distant  farmhouse  that  news  of  the  combatants  was  gleaned. 

"  ^Have  you  seen  anything  of  a  wolf-dog  and  a  pack  of  wolves  around 
here?'  was  the  question  anxiously  put  to  the  male  occupant  of  the  house, 
who  stood  idly  leaning  upon  the  gate. 

"  ^Yep,'  was  the  short  answer, 

"  *How  were  they  going?' 

"  Turty  fast.' 

"^What  was  their  position  when  you  saw  them?' 

"  ^Wall,  the  dog  was  a  leetle  ahead.' " 


JOKES  AND  ANECDOTES.  355* 

A    JUST    REBUKE 

One  of  the  greatest  sources  of  annoyance  which  Mr.  Lincoln  had  to 
contend  with  was  a  constant  influx  of  callers  who  urged  to  end  the  war. 
They  threatened,  condemned  and  undertook  to  force  the  issue.  To  one 
less  self-poised,  to  one  w^ho  had  no  confldence  in  his  own  powers,  such 
criticism  and  censure  would  have  been,  tO'  say  the  least,  fatal  to  his 
peace  of  mind;  but  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  the  moral  giant,  this  class  of  would- 
be  intimidators  no  more  impressed  him  than  would  a  swarm  of  vora- 

< 

cious  mosquitoes  which  kept  up  a  constant  buzzing  in  a  vain  attempt  to 
penetrate  the  protective  wire  screen  which  the  President  had  constructed 
about  his  personal  habitation. 

The  editor  of  a  prominent  New  York  City  newspaper  called  upon  Mr. 
President  and  ventured  to  suggest  that  dilatory  action  in  regard  to  the 
winding  up  of  the  war  might  result  in  preventing  a  renomination  for  a 
second  term. 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  silent  and  seemed  to  be  debating  what  his  answer 
should  be.  At  last  he  faced  his  visitor.  Rising  and  drawing  himself  up 
to  his  full  height,  he  pointed  to  the  door  and  said :  "I  shall  act  as  my 
conscience  dictates.  I  shall  consult  my  God  only;  not  one  of  his  door- 
keepers." 

THE    MYSTERIOUS    RAT    HOLE 

A  claim  w^as  presented  to  Mr.  Lincoln  for  collection,  and  in  order  to 
satisfy  himself  w^hether  the  debtor  was  worth  the  trouble  of  a  lawsuit 
the  Western  lawyer  made  a  personal  call.  After  a  close  scrutiny  of  the 
man's  worldly  goods  and  chattels  he  reported  to  his  clieiit  the  result  of 
his  investigations  as  follows:  'The  fellow,"  said  Mr.  Lincoln,  ''has  not 
a  very  great  array  of  attachable  goods.  Eis  house  contains  a  wife  and 
five  children,  worth  at  least  a  thousand  apiece  to  any  man.  His  office 
wiis  more  modest  in  its  furnishings.  There  was  only  a  table  and  two 
chairs;  but  a  rat  hole  which  I  discovered  in  the  corner,  seems  to  me, 
might  bear  investigation.'^ 

tmmim  —  i         ■!■  ■—■■■■ 

♦There  are  403  pages  in  this  volume.  The  forty-eight  fuU-page,  half-tone  illus- 
trations should  be  added  to  the  last  lolio  number  (355)  indicated,  giving  a  total  of 
403  pages. 


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Abraham  Lincoln  Log  Cabin  A550Ciation 


OFFICERS. 
ELEANOR  GRIDLEY 

President 

QUEEN  G.  THOMAS 

jSecretary-Xreasurer 


OFFICE:    108    NORTH   DEARBORN   STREET 
RESIDENCE:    58-44    HARPER   AVENU£ 

■     '  "  ^L    .jtr  set 


EXECUTIVE  BOARD: 

DR.  WM.  E.   BARTON 
J.  B.  OAKLEAF 
JAMES  ROSENTHAL 
R.  G.  THOMAS 
FRANK  M.  WRIGHT 
ADA  A.  GRIDLEY 
QUEEN  E.  ESTES 


CHICAGO,  lLL.rxJ.S.X: 

x.ovrmbsr  2,1938. 

2ear  Mrs.    Homer; 

.^'ollov.ring   the  "box  of  nip.terial   v/hlch  leaves 
Chicago    th'.  s   afternoon,!    am    senaias  you    e.    anisll   _,  ^'z   -Am  ch 

I    hope  7/111   Ids   acoeptabl  e,  and   ^vill   become  one  of   youE  personal 
belongings. 

First  it   contains   rr  little  pamphlet,    '^  -  ^  '  ^'^~ln  Family,  ^vith 
some  description  of    the  Lincoln  Log   Cabin  in  whi  resided   for 

T-o:^"^   than   a  month  n'hlbl  e  v?riting  my   story.    Upon   the  occasion   des- 
cribed in  "'ritiii^_^    l^iI  s  book  I    Wc- s   ct  iCattoon   and    spoke   at   the 
fair  over   a  loud   speaker    system   for  one  hour,  telling   the    story   of 
the  Lincoln  Log  Crbin,a    replica  of   v^hi  ch  noT'    stands  on  its  orlgieial 
site  in   the  Illinois   State  Park  nesr  Farmington,Illinoi  s. 

The  other  pamphlet  I    hope  will   be   acceptable.    It      that   which  I 
^as  most  pleased  to   be  able   to    say   about  my  very  intimate  and  beloved 
friend,Myra  Bradwelfel,  feeling  it   to   be   a  grert   honor   to   unveil    her 
beautiful    bust.   At   that    time   she  was   the  only  wom:n    to   be  honored 
in   the  Illinois  Hrll    of   Fame  at   Springfield. 

The  little  camera  picture   of    th  <=   "utlpdge  Tavern   st  N  (=w    "c'l  prn 
was   t'^ken  by  my  grmd  daughter  on   the  occasion  of   :j  visit  in  i,  ew   bel  em 
three  years   ago,  ^IJou   willnotice   that  your  bumble   cervant   is    standing 
beside    the   open  door. 

I    have  Inclos'       J-^^    the  l&rge  packpge   r    copy  of    Colli  er' s,  Feb. 
8' th, 1930,  which  intalns  on   the   cover   ;.    most   cisgr-ceful    rnd  out- 


Abraham  Lincoln  Log  Cabin  Association 


OFFICERS: 
ELEANOR  GRIDLEY 

Presitlent 

QUEEN  G.  THOMAS 

iSecretary -Treasurer 


OFFICE:    108   NORTH    DEARBORN   STREET 
RESIDENCE:    5»44   MARKER  lAVEl^UE 

CHICAGO,  ILL.,  U.S.A. 


EXECUTIVE  BOARD: 

DR.  WM.  E.   BARTON 
J.  B.  OAKLEAF 
JAMES  ROSENTHAL 
R.  G.  THOMAS 
FRANK  M.  WRIGHT 
ADA  A.  GRIDLEY 
QUEEN  E.  ESTES 


rageous  illustration  of   ^hi-Bhexn  Lincoln.    I    vrote   the  publi- 
shers a   scathin^p-   criticism,  to   which    they   replied  by    saying 
' 'Ve   thought  it   v/ould  please   the   reading  pfiiblic.    It   was  our  in- 
tention  to   illu  ctrate  Lincoln' s  kindness   to    chiluren.    :,e   are 
sorry  you    are    so   displeased".    To    thi  s  I    re|)li  ed,  "Lincoln  loved 
children,  as  we   all   know;  but  I    never  knew  that   he  M'as   especially 
fond  of  piccaninnl  es,  and   to    show   that  he  had  no    UEClx-^   love 
for   the  colored  race, he  gave  an  apt   answer   to    Stephen  ii.    Douglas' 
insulting  remark, 'Lincoln  i  s   so    fond   of   the  black  folks  he  pro- 
bably -vouldn't   object   to   having  a   negro   wife'.   Lincoln   was   silent 
for   a  moment, fis  face  flaming  red;  then   he  replied,"!    have  never 
wanted  a  negro   for  a  wife, neither   hsYe  1    ever  wanted   a   negro 
for  a  mistress.'    "   I    have   sent   you    that   copy  of  ColliEr' s  but    am 
writing  to    the  publisher  for   another   copy.    I    am    really   between 
the  Devil    and   the  Deep   Blue  Sea.    I    wanted   to   keep    that   magazine 
for  myself,  snd   yet  very  much  wanted  you    to    have  it. If  I    receive 
a   copy  from    the  publi  sher,  then  I    shall    be   at    ease. 

lisve  you    received   e    copy  of   the  Mineral   Dail^  i^ews  in  which 
appears  --^n  account   o.f    the  dedication  of   the  Nancy  Lanks  Lincoln 
Park  in  '7.    Virginia  and  Dr.    Barton's  address  on   tb' t    occasion? 
Dr.    Barton  was  a  very   good  friend  of  mine  and  ofte.i   cajn  e  to    see  m 
me,  Hopiri,^    to   hear  fEora   you    soon, 

I    am   yours  very    sincerely, 


S^ 


CL^^CX^ 


^. 


-^^ 


